SIBO Support

Dear Friends

Small Intestinal Bacterial Overgrowth (SIBO) is considered to be part of the larger condition of Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS).

IBS is known as a chronic, episodic, functional gastrointestinal disorder, characterized by abdominal pain/discomfort and altered bowel habit (constipation, diarrhea or alternating periods of both). It is estimated to affect 10-15% of Western populations, one in seven Americans suffer with this condition (Hungin, 2005)

The following Therapeutics Food Supplements offer support to those who have SIBO.

Therapeutic Food protocol suited for SIBO:

• Supernatant Synbiotic: 1 capsules daily
• Cranberry Pomegranate Synbiotic: 1 capsules daily
• High ORAC Synbiotic: 1 capsule daily
• Organic Garlic:  1 capsule daily

Select one or two of the top three calming and reparative Therapeutic Food Synbiotics; and select garlic as a powerful broad spectrum antibiotic.

Next week we will discuss the merits of the Blueberry Extract to calm and support nerve regeneration.

Food Science

Many studies have linked IBS with SIBO through a qualitative basis using breath tests even though quantitative cultures are the hallmark of diagnosis. Pyleris and fellow researchers (2012) used endoscopy to determine the frequency of SIBO in a large number of Greek patients.

320 subjects enrolled who were diagnosed with IBS according to the Rome II criteria.  SIBO was found in 37.5% of IBS sufferers.  Escherichia coli, Enterococcus spp and Klebsiella pneumoniae were the most common isolates found in patients with SIBO.

Siebecker and Sandberg-Lewis, co-founders of the SIBO Center for Digestive Health at The National College of Natural Medicine (NCNM), state in their paper (2013), Small Intestine Bacterial Overgrowth: Often-Ignored cause of Irritable Bowel Syndrome, that they have used various multistrain and single probiotics as well as yogurt and cultured vegetables with their SIBO patients with good results.  They consider avoiding prebiotics such as FOS, inulin and GOS as the main ingredient.  However, they also state that these prebiotics may be tolerated in small amounts used as base ingredients.

Soifer and associates pilot study’s (2010) objective was to compare the short-term clinical efficacy of metronidazole vs. a probiotic with SIBO and functional chronic abdominal distension. The study population consisted of 50 patients with chronic abdominal distension (Rome III criteria) and diagnosis of SIBO made by a lactulose H2 breath test.

The participants were divided into 2 groups, 25 in the metronidazole group and 25 in the probiotic group.  The probiotic group received a blend of L. casei, L. plantarum, S. faecalis and B. brevis.  Both groups went on the same diet, which consisted in reduced consumption of alcohol, legumes, dairy products and leafy green vegetables.

The results showed that thirteen (52%) subjects receiving metronidazole and twenty (82%) receiving the probiotic referred showed clinical improvement after the treatment.  All the study patients completed treatment.  No adverse events leading to treament discontinuation were observed.

Their conclusion was that the probiotics used had a higher efficacy that metronidazol and may prove successful in treating SIBO.

Garlic is an amazing broad-spectrum antimicrobial.  Its magic bullets are in its secondary metabolites—its thiosulphanates of which allicin comprises about 70 to 80% and is the most potent (Block, 2010).

As stated above, Pylorus et al. found that the pathogenic Escherichia coli, Enteroccus spp. and Klebsiella were the most common isolate found in SIBO patients.  Very dangerous and potentially deadly pathogens—especially VRE (Vancomycin Resistant Enteroccoci).  And, researchers have found that garlic inhibits the growth of all three (Joankers, 1999; Lawson, 2010).

Supernatant Sybiotic: One vegi capsule contains: 15.7 billion CFU of probiotic (L. casei, L. acidophilis, L. bulgaricus, S. thermophilus, B. longum) plus supernatant (inactive cells of L. bulgaricus and S. thermophilus with their metabolites) plus 50mg of inulin as a carrier.

Cranberry Pomegranate Synbiotic: One vegi capsule contains 15 billion CFU of probiotic (L. casei, L. acidophilus, B. longum) plus cranberry extract, pomegranate extract plus supernatant (inactive cells of L. bulgaricus and S. thermophilus with their metabolites) plus 62.5mg of inulin as a carrier.

High ORAC Synbiotic: One vegi capsule contains 20 billion of probiotic (L. acidophilus, B. longum) plus blueberry extract, grape and grape seed extract, raspberry and raspberry seed extract, cranberry, strawberry, prune, tart cherry and wild bilberry extract plus 250mg inulin.

Organic Garlic: One vegi capsule contains four to five cloves of very powerful high allicin potential organic garlic.

Bibliography

• Block, Eric (2010). Garlic and other Alliums: The Lore and the Science. Publisher: The Royal Society of Chemistry, Cambridge UK.
• Hungin et al (2005). Irritable bowel syndrome in the United States: prevalence, symptoms patterns and impact. Alimentary Pharmacology and Therapeutics; 21(11): 1365-1375.
• Jonkers et al. (1997).  Effect of Garlic on Vancomycin Resistant Enterococci. Antimicrobial Agents and Chemotherapy; 43(12): 30-45.
• Lawson LD & Koch HP. (1996). Garlic:  The Science and Therapeutic Application of Allium sativum L. and Related Species. Publisher: Williams and Wilkins.
• Pyleris et al. (2012). The Prevalence of Overgrowth by Aerobic Bacteria in the Small Intestine by Small Bowel Culture: Relationship with Irritable Bowel Syndrome. Digestive Diseases and Sciences; 57(5): 1321-1329.
• Siebecker A, Sandberg-Lewis S. (2013). Small Intestine Bacterial Overgrowth: Often-Ignored Cause of Irritable Bowel Syndrome. Townsend Letter; Feb/Mar 2013.
• Soifer LO, Peralta D, Dima G, Besasso H. (2010). Comparative clinical efficacy of a probiotic vs. an antibiotic in the treatment of patients with intestinal bacterial overgrowth and chronic abdominal functional distension: a pilot study. Acta Gastroenterol Latinoam; 40(4): 323–7.

Sincerely yours,

Seann Bardell

We have developed our products based on scientific research and/or the practical experience of many healthcare practitioners.  There is a growing body of literature on food based nutrition and supplements and their application in support of our health. Please use our products under the advisement of your doctor.

Green Facts:

The Institute of Sustainable Nutrition, located in Connecticutt, has a world vision that people everywhere come to know and enjoy simple, delicious, real-food grown close to home by and with people in their community.  They have a one year hands-on program where you’ll explore the science of the human body and its relationship to food, herbs and well-being.