Every practitioner encounters it: Small Intestinal Bacterial Overgrowth (SIBO). Gastrointestinal (and systemic) complaints due to an increased number of atypical bacteria in the small intestine (1,2). But it is not always recognized.
Patients with SIBO often complain of bloating and abdominal pain, worse after eating. They may also suffer from persistent belching and flatulence, diarrhea or constipation, impaired fat absorption, vitamin deficiencies (including B12), a disturbed intestinal barrier and impaired immune activity (2).
With chronic abdominal complaints, it is often advised to take extra fiber in the form of supplements or fiber-rich food, but this worsens the complaints in SIBO because it enhances bacterial overgrowth. Practical experience shows that many classic probiotic strains often have the opposite effect. From this point of view, SIBO is sometimes treated with antibiotics such as rifaximin (2,3). While this may provide relief, it may also further disrupt the microbiome and lead to C. difficile infection and AB resistance. It is therefore recommended to intervene on the causes: improving motility, lower intake of short carbohydrates and fasting (1,4,5).
In addition, probiotics can also be used, if properly chosen: a meta-analysis of clinical studies shows that certain probiotics can reduce SIBO complaints (6). But not all strains are suitable. Among the ingredients available for MyOwnBlend are several strains for which clinical research is available that show effect in SIBO. This concerns, among others, the Bacillus coagulans Unique IS-2 (7) and the Enterococcus faecium in combination with. Bacillus subtilis (8). The evidence behind the different strains can be found in the description of the ingredients in our system.
In the past six months, various colleagues have often used a combination of specific strains at SIBO and have received many positive reactions. When you indicate in the Advice Help that there are complaints that are consistent with SIBO, these strains will appear in the proposed recipe. Recently, the SIBO approach has been further supported with the option of taking the probiotics semi-fermented. The patient then receives a thermos flask from MiBlend with an adapted instructions for use that improves the effectiveness high in the small intestine. The first user experiences are positive.
References:
- https://doi.org/10.1016/j.gtc.2017.09.008
- https://doi.org/10.1016/j.advms.09.001
- https://doi.org/10.1007/s11894-019-0671-z
- https://doi.org/10.1586/17474124.2016.1110017
- https://doi.org/10.1146/annurev-nutr-071816-064634
- https://doi.org/10.1097/MCG.0000000000000814
- https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4311312/
- https://doi.org/10.3748/wjg.v25.i17.2110