What is SIBO?

Last Updated on December 7, 2023 by Cathy

SIBO stands for small intestinal bacterial overgrowth, in other words, it’s an over-colonization of specific bacteria. Researchers at Harvard’s Brigham & Women’s Hospital are now saying that bad gut bacteria may have a direct link to multiple sclerosis (MS).

You, me, and every person carry trillions of bacteria in their gut, samples from MS patients contained a higher level of certain species and lower levels of another. These microorganisms may drive inflammation or autoimmunity, either way, they play a major role in the immune system. For your convenience, there is a Gut Health Tracker at the bottom of this post.

Researchers also collected breath samples showing higher levels of methane, these types of organisms in the small bowel cause a person to suffer from constipation. It is extremely important to have regular bowel movements to help remove toxins from the body.

What are some of the problems with SIBO?

In a healthy gut, good bacteria help break down the food you eat and be absorbed, for people with SIBO, there are too many bacteria. Bacteria cause unabsorbed carbohydrates in food to ferment and create hydrogen gas as a byproduct. The archaea, a single-cell organism, in your small intestines, feed off the hydrogen which causes methane.

Bacteria interfere with our normal digestion and absorption of food. They can lead to deficiencies in iron and vitamin B12, causing anemia. They can also decrease proper fat absorption leading to deficiencies in vitamins A and D.

A healthy gut lining has cells that are knit closely together that keep the space between them secure. As your gut lining begins to break down it creates openings between the cells. This is what’s known as a “leaky gut” It allows larger undigested food particles, yeast, and toxins to enter your bloodstream and damage your system.

Bacteria can also pass through the leaky gut and into the bloodstream. The bacteria excrete high amounts of acids that can cause neurological and cognitive symptoms.

Two Different Types of SIBO

There are two different types of SIBO depending on which gas is more predominant SIBO from hydrogen or SIBO from methane. Because there are two different kinds of SIBO, there are different symptoms. If you suffer from diarrhea you probably have higher levels of hydrogen, if you suffer from constipation you probably have higher levels of methane.

Diarrhea = higher levels of hydrogen SIBO
Constipation = higher levels of methane SIBO

What Causes SIBO?

Many rounds of antibiotics can cause SIBO, as the antibiotic is killing off the bad bacteria it is also killing off the good bacteria. Your gut flora becomes out of balance, the bad bacteria take over leading to SIBO.

Stress creates an imbalance not only in your well-being but also in your gut. It weakens your immunity causing infections, inflammation, and overgrowth of bad bacteria in your intestines. It’s very important to practice ways of relieving stress, exercise, yoga, or meditation can help.

Processed and junk foods create a “leaky gut” which allows toxins and larger food particles to pass through your gut lining. A leaky gut can cause the overgrowth of bad bacteria, causing food sensitivities, inflammation, and an immune reaction.

What’s the connection to MS?

Researchers are now beginning to understand the connection of the brain to the gut. That’s why when you start getting stressed or experiencing other strong emotions, it’s not only your brain reacting but you also feel it in your gut.

They have also discovered the nerve pathways between the brain and the gut may also be linked to autoimmune diseases such as MS and Parkinson’s disease. The leaky gut allows toxins into the bloodstream triggering an immune response, the body then goes into attack mode. Because SIBO goes undiagnosed it’s unknown exactly how many people suffer from it.

The National Multiple Sclerosis Society (NMSS) is funding a larger test group, The MS Microbiome Consortium, for a comprehensive analysis of the gut bacteria to determine which alterations play a role. This will help determine which factors drive the progression and develop probiotic strategies for stopping it. Like other autoimmune diseases, the cause is unknown, but environmental toxins, infections, and genetics have been found to play a role in the onset of multiple sclerosis.

How do I know if I have SIBO?

You can have a breath test done by your doctor, it measures the hydrogen and methane gas produced by bacteria. Sometimes it can be hard to get these tests done, your doctor and/or insurance may not want to run these tests. It’s best to talk to your functional medical provider.

The breath test measures the amounts of certain gasses in your gut, if the levels are too high it indicates that the bacteria levels are too high. Labs would need to look for elevated levels of hydrogen and/or methane. That’s why it will be interesting to see what the NMSS’s analysis discovers. There are online companies that will do the test for a fee, I have never used them and I don’t know of anyone who has used them.

How do I get rid of SIBO?

There are three main medications you can, Rifaximin, Neomycin, or Metronidazole. Herbal remedies are a better choice and they may be more effective in treating SIBO. The antibiotics temporarily solve the problem but they don’t fix the underlying cause.

There are also three herbal supplements, Allicin, Berberine, and Neem Plus. My functional medical doctor has me taking Berberine but it’s best to talk to your own doctor first. I personally prefer the herbal supplements unfortunately, they may take a little longer than the prescription antibiotics.

Break the Cycle!

SIBO and the leaky gut are all connected, the first thing you need to do is heal your leaky gut. By healing your leaky gut the toxins and bacteria no longer pass into your bloodstream. This will allow your body to be able to start healing.

• Eat slowly and chew your food thoroughly, this will help keep the larger food particles from passing through your leaky gut.
• Don’t drink while you are eating because it can dilute your stomach acid, saliva is a natural digestive.
• While fermented foods can contribute to a healthy gut microbiome by providing probiotics, which are beneficial bacteria, a balanced diet that includes a variety of plant-based foods offers numerous advantages for your health.

In conclusion, everyone is different so it’s hard to say what exactly caused a person to have SIBO. It’s best to eat real food, avoid toxins, get eight hours of sleep, exercise, and stay positive!

Gut Health Tracker

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