Sound Integrative Health Blog

Using patterns of the Lactulose Hydrogen Breath Test to Make Decisions regarding antibiotic therapy in IBS with Small Intestinal Bacterial Overgrowth Small Intestinal Bacterial Overgrowth (SIBO) is an increasingly diagnosed pathophysiologic process that involves normal bacterial flora of the colon being irregularly and excessively translocated to the small intestine. In additions some will acquire SIBO by breakdown in mechanisms that normally clear bacteria from the small intestine such as the migrating motor complex. Once this bacteria has set up in the small intestine it can cause bowel transit dysregulation (diarrhea, constipation, or both), bloating, excess wind, and abdominal discomfort. Many top researchers feel it might be the underlying component of Irritable Bowel Syndrome. It is diagnosed by clinical symptoms combined with the Lactulose Hydrogen Breath Test (LHBT) which measures the production of Methane and Hydrogen case being emitted from the small intestine after ...

A recent 2016 study for 29 female patients with chronic constipation and Small Intestinal Bacteria Growth (SIBO) used 24 mcg twice per day of Lubiprostone (a prescriptive intestinal secretagogue). 41% of those people who tested positive for SIBO were SIBO negative after 2 weeks. This well designed (but albeit small) study also measured gastric emptying time, small bowel transit time, colon transit time (CTT), combined small and large bowel transit time (SLBTT) and whole gut transit time were measured using wireless motility capsule and showed improvement in those parameters. Stooling increased from 2x per week to 4x per week. As someone who treats a lot of SIBO and Chronic Constipation this is a promising new integrative treatment that may even have better results combined with natural therapies and even other conventional therapies. I am investigating more about the reported low side effects of Lubiprostone. The most exciting thing is that it helps us understand more of the mecha...

You are not infected. SIBO is an overgrowth of normal bacteria or archaea of your gut who have migrated (north) from the Large Intestine to Small Intestine. They have moved and have found a hospitable home in a normally inhospitable location. There are many reasons that one develops Small Intestinal Bacterial Overgrowth and the most common is like due to a chronic functional bowel disorder like Irritable Bowel Syndrome. Other reasons you might develop SIBO is due to chronic intestinal problems like Inflammatory Bowel Disease, Prolonged use of Proton Pump Inhibitors, or history of bowel surgeries. Your food choices don’t cause SIBO but may have worsened it. People on really healthy diets get SIBO too….but since bacteria feeds on rapidly ferment-able  carbohydrates and starches you may have been feeding the problem. However don’t blame your food for the problem there is usually a deeper underlying cause. The standard treatment is an antibiotic called Rifaximin but herbal medici...