bacterial overgrowth fermentation and yeasts in the stomach and small intestine

bacterial overgrowth fermentation and yeasts in the stomach and small intestine

Fermentation (Bacterial Overgrowth). Fermentation is a condition of overgrowth of endogenous bacteria and yeasts in the stomach and small intestine. It is exacerbated by gastric hypochlorhydria (stomach hydrochloric acid deficiency), abnormal motility, immune deficiency, and poor nutrition.

Bacterial overgrowth can also occur without any specific symptoms. Fermentation increases the risk of systemic infection and gastric cancer in individuals with hypochlorhydria and can increase intestinal permeability in susceptible individuals. Bacterial overgrowth (fermentation dysbiosis) may cause mucosal damage (degradation of intestinal brush border enzymes by bacterial proteases), pancreatic insufficiency, altered fat absorption, reduced vitamin B12 availability (bacterial consumption of cobalamine), bacterial conversion of nitrates to nitrites and nitrosamines, and elevated levels of SCFAs.

Deficiency. Reduced concentration of normal fecal flora such as Bifidobacterium sp., Lactobacillus sp., and Escherichia coli create an imbalance that leads to deficiency dysbiosis. An unfavorable alteration in the balance of normal flora can be caused by antibiotic therapy or a diet depleted in soluble fiber. In rare situations, chronic exposure to ingested xenobiotics can have the same effect. Individuals suffering from symptoms of irritable bowelsyndrome (IBS) and food intolerance may have imbalance of fecal flora (decreased ratio of anaerobes to aerobes) and decreased fecal SCFAs.
Deficiency dysbiosis and putrefactive dysbiosis are conditions generally treated using similar protocols.

Sensitization. Inappropriate immunologic responses to organisms inhabiting the gut lumen and adhering to the intestinal mucosal surface can be triggered by products of dysbiosis and components of normal intestinal flora. Such responses lead to inflammatory conditions, which are associated with IBS and inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), and increased intestinal permeability, which permits the absorption of enterotoxins, bacterial and food antigens, and bacterial debris. Increased intestinal permeability is involved in the cause of inflammatory joint diseases (arthropathies) and allergy (asthma, eczema).

Infection. Susceptibility to infection by viruses, bacteria, fungi, and parasites is higher in dysbiosis. The prevalence of these infectious agents has increased dramatically in recent years, because of factors such as international travel, contaminated processed foods, and increased antibiotic use.

Changes in global climatic conditions may also have an effect on the normal balance and the abundance of infectious agents. Intoxication. Chemical poisoning of vital biochemical and microbiologic processes by xenobiotics and therapeutic agents (e.g., antibiotics) can cause physiologic imbalances and contribute to dysbiosis. Adetailed assessment of a patient’s history should identify whether intoxication is implicated.