Why does SIBO Occur?
Some of the causes of SIBO that we help to identify & correct are:
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Use of heartburn medications
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Use of antibiotics
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Chronic constipation
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Low stomach acid
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Traveller’s diarrhea
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Food poisoning
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Certain eating patterns like frequent grazing and snacking, which don’t give the MMC time to do its job between meals.
Did You Know?
A bout of food poisoning can trigger “post-infectious IBS.” Research suggests roughly 1 in 10 people develop lasting IBS symptoms afterward, with women at higher risk. This is one of the ways SIBO can begin.
While there is no single cause of SIBO, one of the main underlying factors is a dysfunctional Migrating Motor Complex (MMC) in the small intestine. This often occurs after an episode of food poisoning, traveler’s diarrhea, or after taking certain medications. When working properly, the MMC uses smooth muscle contractions to push food waste and bacteria from the small intestine to the large intestine where it is properly processed.
These smooth muscle contractions usually occur every 3-4 hours in healthy individuals, ensuring that the small intestine doesn’t allow an environment for bacterial over-colonization. When these smooth muscles aren’t working effectively, bacteria can start to over-colonize the small intestine, where they produce hydrogen, methane, and/or hydrogen sulfide gas leading to the symptoms of SIBO.
How Do You Know if You Have SIBO?
If you suspect SIBO, a simple at-home breath test can detect the hydrogen and methane gases produced by the bacteria. At Kanata IBS Clinic we offer this test to patients across Ontario as part of your care.
See our Testing page and FAQ for how it works.
