Dr. Allison Siebecker ND, LAc, SIBO specialist, was interviewed on the Anxiety Summit by host of the Anxiety Summit, Trudy Scott, Food Mood Expert and Nutritionist, author of The Antianxiety Food Solution.
Small Intestinal Bacterial Overgrowth and Anxiety
- An overview of SIBO/small intestinal bacterial overgrowth and recent research
- The SIBO connection to IBS and anxiety/depression
- Using a SIBO questionnaire and SIBO testing
- SIBO treatment: medications, a herbal approach and diet
- Gut motility and low serotonin
Here is the information on the 2015 SIBO Symposium, June 6–7, 2015.
Designed for the medical doctor, alternative medicine practitioner, and the public, the 2nd Annual SIBO Symposium features the nation’s leading experts on the topic to present an evidence-based educational program on managing small intestine bacterial overgrowth.
Small intestine bacterial overgrowth (SIBO) is a chronic bacterial colonization of the small intestine. These bacteria normally live in the gastrointestinal tract, however, in SIBO they have overgrown in a location not meant for so many bacteria. The bacteria interfere with our normal digestion and absorption of food and are associated with damage to the lining or membrane of the small intestine. These mechanisms in turn lead to myriad other disorders—gastrointestinal, systemic, and neurological.
Dr Siebecker has this quote on her site www.siboinfo.com (which has a wealth of information)
According to Bures et al,
It is mandatory to consider SIBO in all cases of complex non-specific dyspeptic complaints (bloating, abdominal discomfort, diarrhea, abdominal pain), in motility disorders, anatomical abnormalities of the small bowel and in all malassimilation syndromes (malabsorption, maldigestion).
I said there were no studies linking SIBO and anxiety but there are many studies connecting SIBO and IBS, and there are many studies connecting IBS and anxiety/depression
However I wrote this in my book the The Antianxiety Food Solution. (published in 2011)
Studies have found that people with digestive complaints such IBS, food allergies and sensitivities, small intestinal bacterial overgrowth and ulcerative colitis frequently suffer from anxiety and, to a lesser extent, depression (Addolorato, Mirijello, D’Angelo, Leggio, Ferrulli, Abenavoli, et al. 2008).
One study (Lydiard 2001) found that 50 to 90 percent of people with IBS who visited a doctor for treatment also suffered from various anxiety disorders (panic disorder, generalized anxiety disorder, social phobia, and post-traumatic stress disorder) and major depression.
Here is a list of the symptoms of SIBO
Here are some of the papers we mentioned:
Serotonin and Its Role in Colonic Function and in Gastrointestinal Disorders
Herbal therapy is equivalent to rifaximin for the treatment of small intestinal bacterial overgrowth
You’ll find many more papers on Dr. Siebecker’s siboinfo.com research section
This is the book Dr Siebecker mentioned: A New IBS Solution: Bacteria-The Missing Link in Treating Irritable Bowel Syndrome, written by Dr Mark Pimentel
If you are not already registered for the Anxiety Summit you can get live access to the speakers of the day here: www.theAnxietySummit.com
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