Small Intestinal Bacterial Overgrowth (SIBO)

The following nutritional interventions are usually used:

• Digestive enzymes

  Digestive enzymes are used to improve digestion and absorption of nutrients and decrease progression of bacterial overgrowth.

• Dietary intervention

  Diet is critical in the SIBO patient. Identifying and eliminating problem foods from the diet, such as high-sugar foods and foods that contain short-chain carbohydrates such as lactose, fructans and galactans, is an important part of recovering from bacterial overgrowth.  A list of foods to consume and to avoid is identified during this process.

• Probiotics

  Patients with bacterial overgrowth conditions can benefit from the use of strain-specific probiotics. In some cases, a symptom-free condition may be reached with probiotics alone.

• Antimicrobials and biofile busters

  In cases of chronic SIBO, antimicrobial herbs are used to reduce unwanted bacteria.  Biofilm-degrading enzymes and other compounds are also effective in the breakdown of stubborn biofilms.