What is SIBO?
Small Intestinal Bacterial Overgrowth is defined as an increase in the number and/or alteration in the type of bacteria in the upper gastrointestinal tract (small intestine). 1
Some of the symptoms of SIBO include malabsorption, abdominal pain, bloating, diarrhea, constipation, weight loss, rosacea, leaky gut, restless leg syndrome, joint pain , gastroparesis, hypothyroidism, diverticulitis, depression/anxiety, brain symptoms (brain fog), skin symptoms and nutritional deficiencies. 2, 3 ,4, 5, 6, 7.
SIBO may be accompanied by both maldigestion and malabsorption. Bacteria in SIBO might significantly interfere with enzymatic, absorptive and metabolic actions of a macro-organism. Due to injury of the brush-border of enterocytes, the activity of disaccharideses may be decreased. If bacteria simultaneously metabolise fructose, lactose and sorbitol, malabsorption of saccharides may occur. Injured small intestinal mucosa can have undesirable consequences in increased intestinal permeability (leaky gut) and/or protein-losing enteropathy. 1
Sources:
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2890937/ 1
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/22109896 2
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/25319735 3
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/21570907 4
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/18456568 5
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/20027008 6
http://www.siboinfo.com/symptoms.html 7