Addressing Stomach Acid for SIBO Eradication
The development of SIBO is usually due to a compounded effect of several underlying issues. The most common of these is low stomach acid.
Understanding SIBO and How it Develops
Understanding how to heal from SIBO means first understanding that SIBO is a symptom of a larger underlying issue. While these issues can range the gammut from medications to heavy metals and mold, hypochlorhydria, or low stomach acid, is a very common cause or contributing factor to the development of SIBO.
How it works: While stomach acid is extremely important to help digest our food, it’s also one of the body’s main lines of defense against pathogens that we digest, and it plays a large role in keeping our gut microbiome at healthy levels. As stomach acid passes through the small and large intestines, the acidity prevents overgrowth of bacteria. Low stomach acid can occur for many reasons.
Stress: When the body is stressed, stomach acid production is reduced. This is because the body needs to be in a parasympathetic state to produce stomach acid (think rest and digest). When chronic stress is introduced to the situation and the body is always in a sympathetic state, stomach acid production is reduced and bacteria may overgrow.
Nutrient Depletion: Sufficient zinc and vitamin B12 levels are necessary for the body to produce sufficient stomach acid. If zinc and B12 levels are low, stomach acid production will be insufficient. In an ironic twist, this can actually lead to further zinc and B12 depletion (along with protein, iron, calcium, and B6) because these nutrients are hard to extract from animal based foods without the proper levels of stomach acid to break them down and make them available.
Medication: Antacids like Tums, Histamine H2-antagonist blockers like Pepcid, Tagamet, an Zantac, and Proton Pump Inhibitors (PPIs) like Omeprazole or Pantoprazole all reduce stomach acid through different pathways. These medications are often recommended for those suffering from chronic heartburn or GERD Unfortunately, GERD is commonly caused by low stomach acid, in which case these medications will exacerbate the issue over the long term as well as potentially leading to SIBO.
Age: As we age, our bodies may naturally produce less stomach acid and pepsinogen, an enzyme that is activated by gastric juices to help digest food.
H. pylori: Helicobacter pylori is a bacteria that can reside in the lining of the stomach. This is the bacteria that is responsible for some ulcers and sometimes the development of esophageal or duodenal cancer. Specific strains will cause these issues, but there are over 150 different type of H. pylori strains. All types can lead to low stomach acid production. This occurs because H. pylori attacks the lining that protects your stomach. The bacteria makes an enzyme called urease which neutralizes stomach acid.
Surgery: Gastric bypass or gastric sleeve surgery can deplete stomach acid levels. This occurs because the size of the stomach is essentially being reduced, thus it is producing less stomach acid. B12 is one of the most common nutrients depleted after gastric surgeries.
What to do about it:
If you suspect you have low stomach acid, the first thing you’ll want to figure out is why it is low to begin with. In some cases like age or gastric surgery, taking a digestive enzyme with Betaine HCl will help. Betaine HCl is an exogenous acid in supplement form and helps regulate the pH of the stomach. It will also help break down food, leaving nutrients like zinc and B12 available for the body to absorb. If nutrient depletion is the issue, taking a digestive enzyme as well as the micronutrients B12 and zinc could help improve stomach acid levels. Requesting RBC zinc and B12 testing can help to confirm whether nutrient depletion is a culprit.
Addressing stress is almost always going to play an important role. Stress can come in the form of emotional stress from relationships, finances, or work, but also in the form of physical trauma such as a car accident, or because of exposure to environmental toxins in the environment and even a poor diet. The body interprets and reacts to most stress in the same way, regardless of the source. If emotional stress is an issue, implementing something like Heartmath can be helpful. Repleting with micronutrients that enable a healthy stress response, like vitamin B6, magnesium, vitamin C, and sodium may also help.
If medication for GERD is a cause of your low stomach acid and resulting SIBO, treating your GERD holistically rather than with medication may be the answer for you. This can include nutrient repletion, digestive enzymes, stress management, and addressing gut infections.
H, pylori infection can be tested through a GI MAP, which also tests for a variety of fungal, viral, bacterial, and parasitic infections. A GI MAP also includes an evaluation of your microbiome, pancreatic function, bile function, inflammation levels in your gut, immune health from a GI standpoint, and even tests for anti-gliadin antibodies (reactivity to gluten). If you suspect H. pylori or any other gut infection, and think you are dealing with SIBO, this test is a great way to start.
Feeling Overwhelmed?
With so many avenues to address, sometime it can feel like too much to conquer. If you need help getting started, set up a Discovery Call to get you pointed in the right direction.
Already Know You’re Dealing with SIBO?
Get Started with Healing SIBO Naturally
Holistic health approaches go beyond symptom management; they aim to address the root causes of health issues and promote overall well-being. In the context of SIBO, a holistic approach involves lookig at the possibility of stomach acid reduction from all angles. By understanding the interconnected nature of these elements, individuals can embark on a journey toward improved digestive health and overall well-being. It's crucial to approach SIBO not merely as a collection of symptoms but as a condition that requires a holistic and personalized strategy for optimal management.
The Healing SIBO Naturally ebook does just this- it is a tailored guide to help you decipher the best way to eradicate SIBO,