SIBO – What is it and how to treat it?

By Susan Tanner, MD

This is a summary of two articles written for Sinusitis Wellness. Please email me directly if you have a question not answered in this material.

SIBO, or Small intestinal bacterial overgrowth, has been an underlying condition for many inflammatory or autoimmune conditions for many years but is being recognized and diagnosed only in recent times by the general medical community. To understand SIBO in simple terms, the gut, which as we have discussed in previous articles, is the lining of the small intestine. This lining has an immense impact on the immune system in general, and for proper function, it requires the presence and activity of trillions of beneficial bacteria. Collectively, these are referred to as the “microbiome.” The activity of these bacteria creates the production of Secretory Immunoglobulin A, which is the starting point of the immune system. They also produce short-chain fatty acids that help form a barrier to the intestinal lining, preventing damage and allowing for better and more appropriate nutrient absorption. The microbiome also protects against opportunistic infections in the GI tract and beyond.

Click here to read Part 1, Explaining Small Intestinal Bacterial Overgrowth or SIBO and Its Connection to Chronic and Environmental Illness.

Once a diagnosis is made, treatments usually include both natural and prescription products, and immune builders. Diet and environment, two of the leading factors that cause SIBO must not be overlooked, though. I encourage my patients to test their homes for mold and to “clean” their diets of processed foods and excess sugars as equally important – possibly the most important – parts of their treatment.

Part 2: Treating Biofilm in the Small Intestine for Long Term Relief of Small Intestinal Bacterial Overgrowth (SIBO) is available here.