Does a high fat diet worsen SIBO?

A high-fat diet, particularly one like the ketogenic diet, can indeed help with the symptoms of Small Intestinal Bacterial Overgrowth (SIBO), but it does not cure it. The strategy often involves limiting the substrates (like certain carbohydrates) that feed the bacterial overgrowth. However, it's essential to note that while this can control symptoms by not feeding the bacteria, it isn't a permanent solution 1.

Dr. Stephen Cabral further explains that high-fat, high-protein diets might initially reduce symptoms by reducing the microbiome complexity. This can feel like an improvement because of reduced bacterial or yeast overgrowth. However, this is a temporary adjustment, and if the diet is not maintained rigorously, symptoms can rebound. Therefore, caution is advised when using this approach as it does not address the root cause of SIBO and can lead to other gut health issues over time due to the reduced diversity of the gut microbiome 2.

In summary, while a high-fat diet might alleviate some SIBO symptoms temporarily, it doesn't solve the underlying issue and may potentially exacerbate other forms of SIBO if the root causes aren't addressed.