Wissenswertes

Histamine intolerance and SIBO

SIBO stands for " Small Intestine Bacterial Overgrowth " and refers to an over- or under-colonization of bacteria in the small intestine (colonic bacteria).

These bacteria can promote disease and inflammation in excess, and some of them are even highly histamine-producing .

Due to histamine production and the overloading of the intestine, SIBO can be a cause of histamine intolerance.

The normal or health-promoting frequency of intestinal bacteria in the small intestine per milliliter of small intestinal fluid is up to 1,000 bacteria/ml.

Normally, the small intestine is responsible for metabolizing nutrients. This only results in a slight reflux of gas from the large intestine into the small intestine. These gases, in small quantities, pose no problem for the body, as they can be absorbed and transported away by the blood.

In SIBO, the frequency of small intestinal bacteria is between 100,000 and 1 million intestinal bacteria/ml.

This overpopulation in the small intestine leads to the following processes.

  • The bacteria in the large intestine now have to metabolize the food, since the small intestine can only metabolize it to a limited extent.
  • This ferments the food pulp in the large intestine.
  • Gases are produced during this process.
  • These enter the small intestine through reflux.
  • The gases cause the small intestine wall to expand.
  • The development of pain

Possible causes of SIBO

Compared to the large intestine, the small intestine has relatively few bacteria. The small and large intestines are separated by a valve (the ileocecal valve). If there is increased gas production in the large intestine (large intestine bacteria ferment food, leading to the formation of gases), the pressure on the ileocecal valve increases, causing it to open. When it opens, bacteria from the large intestine enter the small intestine.

Intestinal bacteria

Furthermore, the intestines cleanse themselves several times a day, and especially at night, through so-called cleansing waves. These are downward contractions caused by intestinal peristalsis (the intestinal tube), which move the food pulp along and cleanse the intestinal wall. This process also allows bacteria to pass from the small intestine back into the large intestine.
This cleaning process can be affected by the following factors and influences:

  1. Frequent snacking between main meals
  2. Lack of exercise
  3. stress
  4. Medications

Furthermore, irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) can also be a cause of SIBO due to the altered motility of the intestine; conversely, SIBO can also cause irritable bowel syndrome.

Typical symptoms of SIBO

  • Bloating, gas
  • Diarrhea
  • Nausea
  • Vomit
  • Nutrient deficiencies (the body absorbs nutrients poorly)
  • weight loss
  • Exhaustion and fatigue
  • Headache
  • altered stool frequency
  • Pressure on the bladder/bladder pain
  • impure skin
  • Food intolerances (histamine, gluten, lactose, fructose, sorbitol, salicylates)

One testing option is a breath test (similar to the one used for fructose intolerance). It's best to make an appointment with a gastroenterologist for this.

The types of SIBO and their treatment

Did you know that three different types of SIBO have now been researched? Two of them can already be measured in Germany using a lactulose breath test. These include:

  • Hydrogen SIBO (H2): This often involves a reaction to starch in food.
  • Methane-SIBO (CH4): Foods high in FODMAPs can trigger symptoms

The third form is somewhat less well-known and is called hydrogen sulfide SIBO (H2S). In this case, sulfur-containing foods should be avoided. The different types of SIBO can occur individually or in combination, and the symptoms are similar in all three forms. Therefore, the specific type can only be identified through a test or an elimination diet.

NEW: Natural SIBO treatment

For both hydrogen-related SIBO and methane-related SIBO, there are new insights into treatment options – not only through medication, but also naturally through diet and the right nutrients ! This involves starving and killing the gas-producing bacteria , which have proliferated in excessive numbers in the gut. The various SIBO bacteria feed on different components of our food, such as starch or certain sugars. Additionally, there are natural antibiotics that can be taken orally.


Sources

  • Posserud I, Stotzer PO, Björnsson ES, Abrahamsson H, Simrén M. Small intestinal bacterial overgrowth in patients with irritable bowel syndrome. Good. 2007;56:802–8.
  • Phillips SF, Quigley EM, Kumar D, Kamath PS. Motility of the ileocolonic junction. Good. 1988;29:390.
  • Roland BC, Ciarleglio MM, Clarke JO, et al. Low ileocecal valve pressure is significantly associated with small intestinal bacterial overgrowth (SIBO). Dig Dis Sci. 2014;59:1269.
  • Rubio-Tapia A, Barton SH, Rosenblatt JE, Murray JA. Prevalence of small intestinal bacterial overgrowth diagnosed by quantitative culture of intestinal aspirate in celiac disease. J Clin Gastroenterol. 2009;43:157–61.
  • Khoshini R, Dai SC, Lezcano S, Pimentel M. A systematic review of diagnostic tests for small intestinal bacterial overgrowth. Dig Dis Sci. 2008;53:1443.
  • https://link.springer.com/content/pdf/10.1007/s00112-002-0507-y.pdf

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