Okay.
Markus Mattiasson says, "what's your take on hydrogen sulfide SIBO, small intestinal
bacterial overgrowth.
And do you have any specific recommendations for dealing with this condition?
From my own personal experience, it seems more like a physiological adaptation rather
than a pathological condition, given that most people that have this problem also have
some kind of deranged sulfur metabolism in general."
I don't really agree with your reasoning.
So I agree that most people that have this problem
have some kind of deranged sulfur metabolism, but I don't see why that makes it a physiological
adaptation rather than a pathological condition.
The correlation is probably a direct result of the predominance of sulfur-metabolizing
bacteria in the gut, which is a bad thing that is actually causing the derangement of
sulfur metabolism.
That's what I think.
Recommendations in dealing with it.
Well, you could go the antibiotic route.
And I think metronidozole, and let me see if I can dig this up quickly because I have
done a lot of research on this issue for one of my clients.
Okay.
So from the research I was looking at, metronidozole is very effective against sulfur-metabolizing
bacteria.
But isn't that reliably delivered to the stool and maybe could be used as an enema.
But I think generally, it is used.
And then I think there's one other one that's sometimes used.
I forgot what the other one is.
I think it's...
Okay.
I can't find it.
Anyway, you can go the antibiotic route under the guidance of a prescribing specialist.
And then I think that the herbs in Atantril have promise, but actually I have a client
who got worse because of it.
So I'm not comfortable giving a blanket recommendation for it right now.
And then I do think that eating a low-sulfur diet while addressing the issue through whatever
means a gut-oriented healthcare practitioner might work with you on it is probably necessary.
Catherine adds "Chris's comment about thiamin and sulfur was very interesting to me.
I've never been able to tolerate B vitamin complex or straight thiamin.
And I have sulfur issues.
Have you seen Greg Nigh's new book, The Devil in the Garlic?"
I've not seen that, but I do believe there's a sort of syndrome out there of people who
cannot tolerate sulfur containing supplements who have sulfur-metabolizing gut bacteria
at the bottom of it.
Markus adds "no, but I've listened to many podcasts with Greg Nigh.
Thanks for the recommendation.
I'll look into it."
Markus then adds, oh I think he's saying that to Catherine.
And Markus then also adds, "Some people believe that the excess sulfur-degrading bacteria
result from the biochemical imbalances in the sulfur metabolism, hence a physiological
adaptation."
So even if that's true, that doesn't make it not pathological.
I don't think that you want hydrogen sulfide gas or sulfite being made in your gut at an
elevated level.
And I don't think that helps you if you have a derangement in sulfur metabolism.
I don't think it helps you to have it as a result of that excess hydrogen sulfide or
sulfite.
I think it's just a negative.
Period.
I mean, at best it's a nuisance because your farts smell real bad.
But at worst, I think the hydrogen sulfide could cause dysregulation of gut motility,
could leak into the body, interfering with general signaling effects of hydrogen sulfide.
And I think sulfite is an inevitable byproduct of that metabolism.
And I think sulfite is a terrible risk for mineral deficiencies and general toxicity.
So I think it's across the board a bad thing.
Yeah.
It might result from biochemical imbalances and sulfur metabolism.
I think it's far more likely to result from high intake of sulfur-containing foods and
supplements.
So for example, there's animal experiments showing that chondroitin sulfate, for example,
increases the sulfur-metabolizing bacteria in the gut.
And because there's very low absorption of chondroitin sulfate supplements.
And so if you overload the gut with sulfur, you're going to get increased sulfur-metabolizing
bacteria, generally a bad thing in my opinion.
Okay.
Markus, thank you for your question.
Hope that helps.