SIBO (Small Intestinal Bacterial Overgrowth)

The small intestine normally has relatively few bacteria. In small intestinal bacterial overgrowth (SIBO), too many bacteria grow there. They ferment food, causing gas and bloating, and can interfere with absorbing nutrients.

Symptoms

• Bloating and belly swelling, often worse after meals
• Gas and belly discomfort
• Diarrhea, or sometimes constipation
• Weight loss or vitamin B12 deficiency in more severe cases

Risk factors

• Slow movement of the intestine, such as from diabetes or scleroderma
• Prior stomach or intestinal surgery
• Crohn's disease or strictures
• Long-term use of acid-reducing medicines
• Older age

Diagnosis

A breath test is the most common test: you drink a sugar solution and breathe into a bag at intervals. Because symptoms overlap with IBS, celiac disease, and other conditions, we often check for those as well.

Treatment

• Antibiotics, most often rifaximin, which acts mainly in the gut
• Treating the cause, such as improving intestinal movement or reviewing medicines
• Diet changes, such as a short-term low-FODMAP diet, to ease symptoms
• Vitamin replacement if levels are low

Make an appointment

Our gastroenterologists in Temple City care for patients from Arcadia, San Gabriel, Pasadena, Monrovia, Monterey Park, and across the San Gabriel Valley. We accept most PPO plans (see accepted insurances), and our doctors speak English, Vietnamese, and Mandarin. Schedule an appointment or call 626-898-4560.

This article is for general education and is not a substitute for medical advice. Talk with your doctor about your own health.