IgA is a protective mucous membrane barrier that lines our intestinal tract and plays an important role at preventing SIBO. Because 70 to 80% of our immune system is located in the lymphoid tissue in our intestinal tract, this has the ability to throw our immune system out of balance.Ĭhronic infections can lower stomach acid and decrease our body’s ability to break food down. When this happens, we tend to have a decrease in immunoglobulin A (IgA). Many infections are opportunistic and are able to take hold of the person’s body because of an accumulation of physical, chemical, and emotional stress. Without the crucial release of these enzymes, our body is at an increased risk for small intestinal bacterial overgrowth, or SIBO. Without an acidic pH, the foods that are released from our stomach into our small intestine will not provide enough stimulation to trigger the gallbladder to release bile acids and pancreas to produce protein (trypsin and lipase) and fat-digesting enzymes. HCl is the first important step for enzyme production. When our body doesn’t break down these proteins and fats fully, they putrefy, rancidify, and ferment in our intestinal track. Without adequate enzyme production, our body has a difficult time digesting proteins and fats. Without adequate levels of stomach acid, SIBO is almost certain! 2.
This increase in intra-abdominal pressure can open up the esophageal sphincter and allow acids from the stomach to rise up and create irritation or burn the esophageal tissue. When bad bacteria overpopulate the stomach, it’s easy to see the increase in intra-abdominal pressure. This is why people on proton-pump inhibitors (drugs that block stomach acid) are at an increased risk for SIBO.Ī low pH also provides an inhospitable environment for bad bacteria to grow. We need a low pH (acidic), right around 2, to ensure our body’s optimal digestive capabilities. When we have low stomach acid, or achlorhydria, our body lacks the ability to activate protein-digesting enzymes in our stomach, called pepsin. SIBO can affect our immune system and compromise our body’s ability to break down food and absorb nutrition.ģ. Indigestion/low nutrient absorption (low B12, proteins, and fats) There are millions of people with SIBO-like symptoms covering them up with medications that don’t fix the underlying problem. Have you ever felt your stomach pooch out after eating certain foods? Do you ever feel like you can’t quite digest your food all the way? Small intestinal bacterial overgrowth can also contribute to leaky gut syndrome! I see patients every day walking to my clinic with small intestinal bacterial overgrowth (SIBO) symptoms.