It can feel frusturating to have bloating, distention and IBS symptoms with no answers as to why you are having them. Thankfully, there are two tests that can help to identify if you have SIBO and that can help you on your gut healing journey.
What is SIBO?
Small Intestinal Bacterial Overgrowth (SIBO) is a gut microbiome imbalance where too many bacteria migrate from the large intestine, up into the small intestine. Here in the small intestine, these bacteria have access to food that isn’t fully digested. Normally, in the colon, they are only exposed to more fully digested food.
The bacteria feast on this partially digested food and release gas in the small intestine that causes bloating, distention, and flatulence. Depending on what gas is released, transit time may be slowed or increased, leading to diarrhea or constipation (or a mix of both).
How to Test For SIBO
To properly heal from SIBO, first, we must test to confirm that GI symptoms are actually being caused by SIBO (there could be several reasons why someone has bloating, diarrhea, or constipation – read more on that here). Here are the 2 tests I use in my practice to find and heal SIBO:
SIBO Breath Test
The SIBO Breath Test is performed by drinking a lactulose solution and then breathing into tubes over the course of 3 hours. The test measures which gases are released in the small intestine as a result of bacteria fermenting the lactulose. If we see a spike in the small intestine, this can diagnose SIBO and which type of SIBO is present.
The benefits of a SIBO Breath Test:
- Can diagnose SIBO
- Helps make an effective treatment plan
- Can show cases of SIBO that might have been missed on other types of testing
The drawbacks of a SIBO Breath Test:
- Doesn’t give a comprehensive look at the gut microbiome
- Can’t show causes or contributing factors to SIBO
- SIBO is treated as an isolated issue vs. looking at the whole microbiome
- There’s a higher chance of SIBO coming back
Comprehensive Stool Test
A comprehensive stool test is a robust analysis of the gut microbiome using a stool sample. The report looks at beneficial bacteria, SIBO-causing bacteria, yeast, parasites, gluten intolerance, digestion, and inflammation. Lastly, it can also give insights into cholesterol metabolism, allergies, and more!
The benefits of a Comprehensive Stool Test for SIBO:
- Helps understand the root causes or contributing factors to SIBO
- Allows your practitioner to make a custom protocol to treat SIBO + contributing factors
- Less incidence of SIBO recurring due to addressing the whole microbiome
The drawbacks of a Comprehensive Stool Test for SIBO:
- Can miss SIBO (false negative result) because it is primarily testing the colon
- Not a diagnostic test for SIBO
- Doesn’t show levels of gases being produced
What Test is Right for Me?
Both the SIBO Breath test and the Comprehensive Stool Test offer extremely valuable information for someone who is presenting with the symptoms of SIBO.
In my practice, I do the following for my clients when I suspect SIBO:
- Run the comprehensive stool test for everyone
- Add on the SIBO breath test when we suspect false-negative SIBO results
- Run the comprehensive stool test + SIBO test if they have done one or both of the tests previously or been treated for SIBO but are still experiencing symptoms.
Conclusion
In conculstion, if you suspect you may have SIBO based on bloating, IBS symptoms, diarrhea, or constipation, you are a good candidate for the comprehensive stool test or combining it with the SIBO breath test.
Disclaimer: This content is for informational and educational purposes only and is not intended as medical advice. Always consult with a qualified healthcare provider before making any changes to your diet, lifestyle, or supplement regimen.
