Overview
Effects of SIBO
SIBO affects much more than just your digestion. Your digestive track is your link to the energy, vitamins and nutrients that we require to survive.
The gut contains trillions of bacteria. Dysbiosis of the gut or the overpopulation of bacteria in the small intestine (as seen in SIBO) can have multiple effects on other systems in the body.
- mental health problems
- inflammation issues
- weight gain and weight loss issues
- food intolerances
- histamine intolerances
- skin issues
- hair loss
- vitamin deficiencies
- And more can all be the unpleasant effects of SIBO.
Gas, bloating, and pain can become a daily debilitating occurrence, which is just the start.
Find out more >
Mental health and SIBO
The brain and the gut communicate through millions of nerves, particularly the vagus nerve.
Mental health issues, such as depression, anxiety and brain fog, are higher in SIBO sufferers.
Your gut directly communicates with your brain, and we learn more about how significant this connection is every year.
The implications SIBO has on your life can add to the mental health burden. For example, did you know you can make a happy rat sad by changing its gut bacteria?
SIBO and chronic inflammation
Research has found that inflammatory conditions that affect the skin and other systems are higher in SIBO.
SIBO bacteria compromise the structure between the cells in the small intestine. That causes abnormal intestinal permeability allowing toxins and allergens to enter the bloodstream.
That requires your body to mount your immune response then and take action. That causes an inflammatory reaction. We often see SIBO sufferers present with higher rates of inflammatory health conditions than healthy individuals.
SIBO, gas and bloating
SIBO sufferers experience a level of bloating that is abnormal. We go into detail as to why on our SIBO, Gas and Bloating page. There are some tell-tale signs to look out for to spot the difference between usual bloat and a SIBO bloat.
SIBO and weight
SIBO can cause weight loss or weight gain depending on the bacteria you have living in your small intestine.
It can make you unable to absorb energy from food. Yet, in some cases, it can give you the ability to extract more energy from food (via fermentation). The reasons behind this are complex, and there is more than one, but we explain in detail.
SIBO and food intolerance
Food intolerance is a common issue with SIBO. Sufferers often develop problems digesting the food they previously had no problems eating.
SIBO can damage your relationship with food. You can learn more about SIBO, food intolerances and why it happens below.
SIBO and histamine intolerance
Histamines are present in many foods; that is usually not a problem. Our body neutralises these histamines (so they don’t cause a mild allergic reaction) in the gut. In SIBO, sometimes this doesn’t happen anymore, and this can cause a host of mysterious symptoms.
The gut-skin axis
The gut-skin axis is real. People who suffer from digestive issues are much more likely to experience skin issues such as acne, psoriasis, etc. Studies have found SIBO sufferers ten times more likely to experience acne.
SIBO and hair loss
Hair loss can be one of the unfortunate effects of SIBO. Your body doesn’t see your hair as a priority, so when things start to go wrong in the gut, it can begin to thin and fall out.
That is usually tied to nutrient deficiencies commonly associated with SIBO. You can do things to help stop hair loss and promote growth. We have given you some hair hacks if you are currently struggling with this, backed by evidence.
The brain and the gut
An unhappy gut sends signals to the brain just like a troubled brain sends signals to the gut. Without this link, humans probably wouldn’t be here today.
If the brain and gut couldn’t communicate, we would not know when we were hungry, when we were stressed, when we needed to direct blood away from the gut and to the muscles for flight and fight.
The gut and its bacteria play a significant role in inflammation. The immune system can produce many compounds that can affect the brain. Our gut can even influence what our brain wants.
They are more interlinked than we ever thought.
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