SIBO test UK

[Nicky74]

Hi I think I need a SIBO test in the UK anyone any good recommendations of where to buy from ? Cheers

[Yaleamanda]

The breath tests (lactulose and glucose hydrogen/methane) used to detect it have been shown to be unreliable - in fact they measure things like carbohydrate malabsoprtion but not SIBO.

The gold standard test for SIBO is to culture an aspirate taken during an endoscopy. This is rarely done due to expense , complexity and rarity of SIBO

SIBO is pretty well excluded as having a role in IBS. When the gold standard method for detecting are use it was found to occur at the same rate in IBS and non-IBS Individuals - about 4%.

Conclusions: The data do not support an important role for SIBO according to commonly used clinical definitions, in IBS. However, mildly increased counts of small-bowel bacteria seem to be more common in IBS, and needs further investigation. Motility alterations could not reliably predict altered small-bowel bacterial flora.

gut.bmj.com/content/56/6/802

SIBO is a real diagnosis. But the frequency of it is nowhere near what is being claimed. The best evidence suggest it occurs in less then 4% of people with IBS. It’s not a common condition in the general population either. It’s become an almost fad diagnosis popular among naturopaths and holistic doctors, this is because the breath testing to diagnose SIBO isn’t greatly accurate with a high false positive. This means it can be exploited to make a quick buck by prescribing expensive and fake supplements to treat it. We find many people want and prefer a SIBO diagnosis because of this idea it’s more treatable and perhaps more tangible then IBS, so common people Ignore and insist they have it even without any testing. Those who really have SIBO it’s not an easy to treat condition as many think, antibiotics often fail and stop working and symptoms return, for many it’s chronic and only managed by dietary changes. Even though there isn’t enough evidence yet the Low FODMAP diet is being used for SIBO by many dieticians. So for most even if you do have SIBO treatment may be the same as IBS anyway.

[userotc]

I agree with Yaleamanda about false positives with SIBO tests as it was eventually agreed by the testing provider that mine was. However they said my result was positive if symptoms are also permanently present (mine aren't). Also that the technology is evolving.

So the uncertainty with the tests shouldn't necessarily be a criticism of a naturopath that proposed them.

[Jenny3267]

The study cited was done in 2006? Looks like there has been a lot more research since then. It’s all very confusing but there is a huge amount of information and probably misinformation out there.

[Nicky74]

Thanks for the advice...my symptoms fit with SIBO I’ve been sticking to FODMAP for about 2 years and still get very bloated I eat small meals... when I’m running all I do is big burps, acid reflux, I don’t eat 5/6 hours before run. I make all my food myself...made butternut squash soup last week, the vile smelly wind was still going at 4am couldn’t sleep...I just want to fix it, don’t want to live like this....I’m a vegetarian so miss a lot of my usual food... I know there are worse things to have, I should be thankful....any advice would be appreciated...cheers 👌