Microbial dysbiosis patterns in SIBO: a review of dietary interventions and probiotic therapies.

Small intestinal bacterial overgrowth (SIBO) is a gastrointestinal condition in which bacteria accumulate in the small intestine in abnormal amounts, interfering with digestion and nutrient absorption. In recent years, increasing attention has been given to the role of gut microbial imbalance, or dysbiosis, as a key factor in both the development and persistence of SIBO. The following narrative review is focused on presenting current evidence on the nature of microbial dysbiosis in SIBO with special attention to the possible effects of dietary changes and probiotics on establishing microbial balance. It should be noted that the use of certain diets and reduction in intake of fermentable oligosaccharides has been commonly prescribed by doctors in order to ease the condition in a significant number of cases. Moreover, probiotics have also become an extensively studied subject since it appears that they might help to create a favorable microbial environment. However, there are still some inconsistencies between findings because of different study approaches, strains of probiotics and types of diets used. Nevertheless, such heterogeneity also creates a crucial gap in the scientific literature which needs to be filled through further research. To summarize, it can be stated that nutritional approaches aimed at influencing the gut microbiota appear to have positive effects on the issue under discussion.