SIBO - An underlying cause of IBS?
Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is an extremely common functional disorder of the gastrointestinal tract and is characterized by chronic abdominal pain and altered bowel habits. It is estimated to affect (at least) 10-15% of the population in North America even though many that meet the criteria do not get a formal diagnosis. IBS concerns account for 25-50% of referrals to gastroenterologists. For treatment, some get prescribed the FODMAPS diet (an excruciatingly hard diet to follow long term!) but many are not given effective treatment options. Many live with these uncomfortable digestive symptoms long term and consider this to be “their normal”. IBS is common but it is NOT normal.
An underlying cause of IBS can be small intestinal bacterial overgrowth (SIBO). In fact, many IBS cases can be tied to SIBO! SIBO is a very common condition in which an overgrowth of bacteria occurs in the small intestine (the majority of our bacteria should be stored in our large intestine). This overgrowth causes bacterial fermentation of fibres and sugars from foods that create symptoms of gas, heartburn, diarrhea, constipation, nausea and abdominal pain. Thankfully, there is testing to confirm this diagnosis and effective treatment options! If you do suffer from recurrent and chronic uncomfortable gastrointestinal symptoms that you thought were linked to IBS, it may be worthwhile to investigate SIBO from an experienced Naturopathic Doctor!
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