Twenty years ago, SIBO was thought to be an uncommon condition. However, with the increasing availability of testing and the increasing awareness of the condition, we know now it is quite common in those with GI symptoms. While there are trillions (50-100 trillion) bacteria in the large intestine (the colon), there are far fewer bacteria present in the small intestine, where they are in the order of billions. SIBO occurs when large numbers of bacteria proliferate in the small intestine. The bacteria can be anywhere in the small intestine (which is 26 feet long) but are more common towards the lower end (towards the colon) and it is thought that bacteria travel upwards from the large bowel. While SIBO occurring near the top of the small intestine may come from the bacteria in our food or mouth that somehow survive ‘disinfection’ in the stomach.
Why do bacteria in the small bowel cause problems?
What are the symptoms of SIBO?
Causes of SIBO
As with many things in the human body, there are a number of reasons why someone might get SIBO but, sometimes there is no obvious cause at all.
- Motility problems
The small bowel is constantly contracting to move its contents rapidly from top to bottom. This is like a small mountain stream, flowing rapidly downhill with fresh water. If the water slows down or stops, the water becomes a bit murky and weeds begin to grow. Similar occurs in the small bowel, if the flow slows down, bacteria begin to multiply, leading to SIBO. Therefore, conditions that slow down gut motility (such as IBS-C, neurological conditions, diabetes, taking some medications e.g. opioids) can increase your risk of SIBO. Getting older also slows down gut motility, leading to increased risk, particularly in older women
- Reduced Gastric Acid
Most bacteria can’t survive the acid in the stomach. However many people are on acid-inhibiting medications, such as PPIs (proton pump inhibitors) because of problems with acid reflux or for other reasons. These medications double the risk of developing SIBO, although the actual risk remains low.
- Previous Surgery
Bariatric surgery (surgery for overweight / obesity) such as a gastric by-pass allows food (and bacteria) to bypass the stomach and directly enter the small bowel. This appears to increase the risk of developing SIBO. While surgery on the colon that removes the valve between the large and small bowel (called a right hemi-colectomy) may allow bacteria to migrate upwards into the small bowel from the colon.
How do you test for SIBO?
A Hydrogen and Methane breath test is the most common test for SIBO. This is a simple and non-invasive investigation. The test usually involves drinking some lactulose (glucose can also be used) a sugar that is not digested by the human gut, but which is digested and fermented by gut bacteria, leading to the release of hydrogen. The hydrogen is reabsorbed into the blood stream and then travels to the lungs, where is it released during exhalation. Breath samples are then taken every 20 minutes for up to 3 hours, to assess the hydrogen levels in the breath sample. If there is a significant rise within 90 minutes, this is usually indicative of hydrogen-SIBO. Hydrogen-SIBO is associated with loose stools / diarrhoea or an alternating type bowel pattern.
Most breath testing will also test for methane levels, a thing called methanogenesis. Methane is produced by microorganisms called archaea within the gut. Archaea are closely related to bacteria but not actual bacteria. Recent SIBO guidelines have reclassified a methane-positive breath test as intestinal methanogen overgrowth (IMO) as methane excess is likely not just coming from the small intestine, but from the large intestine also. Excessive methane production within the gut is more commonly associated with constipation. Methane has been shown to directly slow intestinal transit and causes constipation and some studies have shown that the degree of constipation correlated with breath CH4 levels in subjects with IBS and in patients with constipation without IBS.
Breath testing for SIBO is not perfect and is only 60-70% accurate – both false negative and false positive results occur.
How to know if you have SIBO or IBS?
Looking at the list of SIBO symptoms you’ve probably noticed that it looks very like the list of IBS symptoms! There is often overlap between IBS and SIBO. This has led researchers to investigate if patients diagnosed with IBS have in fact got SIBO. Are some people misdiagnosed with IBS when in fact they have SIBO? Or do some people have both IBS and SIBO? Many studies have looked at the frequency of SIBO in those with IBS. A recent meta-analysis found that 30% of IBS sufferers also had SIBO, compared to only 8-10% of controls (SIBO was almost 4-times more likely in IBS patients compared to healthy controls). Healthy controls were people who had no digestive symptoms which means that some people may have SIBO, but feel completely well. If you have IBS, and your symptoms are not settling with first-line treatments, it may be worthwhile testing for SIBO. This ties in with studies that have looked at antibiotic treatment for IBS. On average 1 in 9 people with IBS treated with an antibiotic, will have a significant improvement in their symptoms. Not all of those studies tested for SIBO, perhaps the benefits seen were due to co-existing SIBO, or alteration in the colonic bacteria, which is also known to be altered in IBS (so-called dysbiosis)
What is the treatment for SIBO?
A number of different strategies are used
- Antibiotics for SIBO
The main treatment is antibiotics. Rifaxamin is one of the best studied and is 70% effective. It is particularly effective if hydrogen-producing bacteria are present in the small bowel, but if there is methane production, a second antibiotic, often Metronidazole or Neomycin, is required. Antibiotics are usually prescribed for 2-4 weeks.
- Dietary management of SIBO
Several diets have been studied for the treatment of SIBO. Because we know that gut bacteria digest and ferment undigested sugars and carbohydrates, diets low in these carbohydrates have been suggested as a potential treatment for SIBO. Low fermentable diets such as the low FODMAP diet, or the low carbohydrate ‘keto’ diet have been suggested as possible treatments, however, there is currently no sound proof for this.
- Probiotics for SIBO
The role of probiotics in the treatment of SIBO is not currently clear. One recent study, which pooled together all the data from existing studies, suggested that probiotics may be effective in treating SIBO in some people, but long-term use did not appear to prevent the recurrence of SIBO. This area needs further study.
- Herbal remedies
Some natural substances such as thyme, sage, oregano, wormwood, berberine, grapefruit seed, garlic, ginger, rhubarb, and liquorice are commercially available in combination as capsules. Many of these substances have been shown to have antibacterial properties and are commonly used in Chinese medical practice. Many people with IBS and SIBO take complementary and alternative therapies and some people absolutely swear by them, however further studies are needed.
Recurrent SIBO
As we mentioned, SIBO often occurs in people with an underlying condition. Therefore, it is not surprising that almost 50% of people with SIBO will develop a recurrence of their symptoms within a year of treatment. Ideally, an underlying cause should be treated, but unfortunately, this is often not possible and some patients will require repeated courses of antibiotics. Most clinicians aim to give patients as little antibiotic as effective and to stretch out the interval between antibiotic courses as much as possible. Patients often have a very good handle on this and know when to need to re-start an antibiotic, based on their symptoms.
Conclusion
SIBO causes nonspecific GI symptoms and symptoms alone cannot be used to establish a SIBO diagnosis. Although a perfect breath test for SIBO is currently lacking, breath testing is safe and non-invasive and is currently the best routine test available. Up to 50% of people with IBS may have SIBO and there is considerable overlap of the symptoms. Treatment of SIBO with antibiotics is generally effective and well- tolerated but recurrence is common. Dietary and herbal treatments may benefit some people.
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