SIBO

What is SIBO?

SIBO (Small Intestinal Bacterial Overgrowth) is a condition characterized by an excess or abnormal distribution of bacteria in the small intestine, a region that physiologically has a low bacterial load compared to the colon.

This overgrowth can cause early fermentation of carbohydrates, leading to increased gas production and the appearance of digestive symptoms.

WHAT SYMPTOMS MAY BE ASSOCIATED WITH SIBO?

• Marked abdominal distension
• Excess gas
• Abdominal pain or discomfort
• Diarrhea, constipation, or alternating bowel habits
• Feeling of heavy digestion

SIBO diagnosis by exhaled air test

The Exhaled Air Test with lactulose or glucose is one of the most used tools for the evaluation of SIBO.

• • Glucose: allows to detect bacterial fermentation in the proximal section of the small intestine.
  • Lactulose: provides information on the dynamics of fermentation throughout the intestinal transit.

The serial measurement of hydrogen and methane allows to identify different fermentation patterns, which provide guidance on the possible presence of bacterial overgrowth.

The study of SIBO by exhaled air test should be understood as a complementary diagnostic tool, which provides functional information on intestinal fermentative activity and should be interpreted in conjunction with the clinical history and other studies, if applicable.