Could Your Reflux Symptoms Actually Be Caused by SIBO?
Have you been struggling with a persistent sore throat, cough or throat clearing? You might reasonably assume both your issue is associated with your throat and that there is a problem with reflux, however you may be unaware it could be Small Intestinal Bacterial Overgrowth (SIBO) which is the root cause of your symptoms.
Most people have heard about 'acid reflux', while more and more are getting to grips with LPR (Laryngopharyngeal Reflux), but a recent academic study spearheaded by RefluxUK has shone a light on the influence of the less well known Small Intestinal Bacterial Overgrowth (SIBO) when it comes to your troublesome throat symptoms.
The potential link between SIBO and reflux has previously not been well recognised, however given the potential crossover in symptoms between the two conditions RefluxUK have sought to lead the research into this particular question.
New study yields significant findings
In the study driven by our research, published in both the Oxford Academic and PubMed, there were a number of striking conclusions drawn:
- For the first time a published paper in scientific literature has shown that reflux symptoms can be relieved by treating SIBO.
- Around 90% of patients with both heartburn/regurgitation but also LPR-related symptoms saw improvements.
- Almost all patients saw significant reductions in the need to take PPIs (proton pump inhibitors).
- In all those patients suffering sufficiently severe symptoms that they were considering anti-reflux surgery, following treatment for SIBO this potentially unnecessary surgery was avoided.
What could this mean?
These insights are groundbreaking in terms of the potential to avoid the misdiagnosis and unnecessary treatment of so many patients.
What we would emphasise to those with reflux symptoms would be;
- Get a SIBO breath test. This is crucial in determining diagnosis and related treatment to resolve your symptoms. They are also both cost-effective and easy to use in the comfort of your own home.
- PPIs are associated with SIBO - meaning PPIs which have been prescribed to those used to treat their 'reflux symptoms' could indeed be making those symptoms worse.
- Antiobiotics can cause SIBO and their use without accurate diagnosis (for example for H. pylori) can contribute to reflux/LPR symptoms.
- SIBO can cause symptoms in the oesophagus/throat as well as the colon, which has not previously been well recognised.
We are very proud to have helped draw attention to a previously misunderstood condition (although there is still much regarding SIBO we are still discovering) and how its effects can impact upon a great number of people suffering from symptoms which fundamentally affect their quality of life on a day to day basis.
It also helps to highlight how 'reflux' as a problem is a very complicated one, with so many potential issues having an effect. No one reflux sufferer is the same which is why each needs to be assessed and diagnosed by experts - take that step to reflux relief today with RefluxUK.
See also an article by our Founder, Nick Boyle, providing a deep dive analysis on the study and how we hope it lays the groundwork for future study of SIBO: Reflux, the gut biome and SIBO
