- A healthy and diverse gut bacteria,
is important for health,
however, an overgrowth of this bacteria,
in the small intestine, known as SIBO,
can cause serious problems.
This video takes a look at SIBO,
and with the dietary changes, can help.
Small intestinal bacterial overgrowth, or SIBO,
is a digestive disorder characterized
by excessive bacterial growth in the small intestine.
Now, unlike the large intestine, also known
as the gut or colon, which contains your gut bacteria,
the small intestine should not contain
a high concentration of bacteria.
Many SIBO patients experience different symptoms.
The most common ones are fatigue, nausea and vomiting,
bloating and diarrhea,
and it can even lead to malnutrition,
and severe weight loss.
Left unmanaged for several months,
SIBO usually causes several
vitamin and mineral deficiencies.
Vitamin B12 deficiency is one of the most common,
alongside the fat-soluble vitamins
and mineral deficiencies,
such as Iron, Calcium and Magnesium.
It reportedly takes between two to five years
for SIBO to be completely corrected.
This is why diet is one of the most important aspects
for sustainable SIBO treatment.
Unfortunately, this is overlooked by
the majority of Medical Professionals.
An appropriate diet not only treats SIBO-related
nutrient deficiencies, but can also help prevent
recurrence of SIBO after initial symptoms
are treated with Antibiotics.
Priority should go to nutrient-dense foods
rich in vitamins and minerals.
Foods like leafy greens, potatoes, eggs,
salmon and tuna, and shellfish should be
a regular feature in your diet.
With regards to preventing a recurrence,
there's some interesting research
around intentionally altering our gut bacteria.
SIBO shares almost all the same symptoms as IBS,
or Irritable Bowel Syndrome.
In fact studies show, that between 30 to 85%
of patients with IBS, also have SIBO.
Due to this strong overlap, researchers suspect
a low FODMAP diet may be beneficial
for SIBO patients too, as it would starve
the problem bacteria in the small intestine.
FODMAPs are a type of fermentable carb,
that feed gut bacteria and cause
digestive issues in a lot of people.
So a low FODMAP diet may help initially,
by starving the bacteria in the gut but,
it's so restrictive that it's not
a valid long-term solution.
Now, there's also been some interesting research
on Probiotics in SIBO.
So Probiotics are bacteria we intentionally eat
for health benefits.
They are the opposite of Antibiotics.
It's seems counterintuitive to treat SIBO,
a bacterial overgrowth, with additional bacteria,
but recent research has seen success,
using Probiotics instead of Antibiotics.
One study found that 82% of patients
receiving Probiotics for five days,
reported improvements, compared to only
a 52% improvement in those receiving
the Antibiotic, metronidazol.
However, to be fair, some research found
no significant benefits,
and it's really unclear what Probiotic strains are best,
so until we know more, Antibiotics may still be required,
especially for more advanced cases.
Unfortunately, there is no single diet,
guaranteed to treat SIBO 100% effectively,
therefore, it's important to explore all the
different options and alternatives,
and find what works for you.
From the weight of evidence, it seems that,
a one-week course of Antibiotics is warranted first,
followed by a temporary low FODMAP Diet,
but ensuring that you don't starve all the bacteria.
And then you could also supplement
with some Probiotics, to see how that works for you,
and of course, you must be eating nutrient-dense foods
every day, to ensure that you're not at risk,
for nutritional deficiencies.
And of course, this all needs to be done,
under the supervision of your Doctor, or Dietitian.
Thanks for watching.
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