Background
- SIBO (Small Intestinal Bacterial Overgrowth) is a gut condition whereby there is in imbalance in gut microbes (dysbiosis) in the small intestine, leading to symptoms of bloating, cramping, and changes in bowel habits (constipation, diarrhea).
- So far, the main treatment for SIBO is a round or more of antibiotics, but the condition frequently recurs.
- In many ways, SIBO is similar to irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) but there is hardly any research on SIBO compared to what there is for IBS.
Main Takeaways
- The vast majority of the papers the authors found studied people with IBS. The findings provide good support for dietary intervention/lifestyle change for IBS. Specifically, mindful eating (especially good chewing) was associated with fewer IBS symptoms, as was probiotic supplementation with antibiotics.
- A key finding supported diets with fiber, or even fiber supplementation, for IBS symptoms. But again, there is little research on SIBO.
- Overall, the results provide a rationale for dietary interventions for SIBO, but possible benefits are not yet known.