Methods of diagnosing and treating small intestinal bacterial overgrowth (sibo) and sibo-related conditions

Abstract

Disclosed is a method of treating small intestinal bacterial overgrowth (SIBO) or a SIBO-caused condition in a human subject. SIBO-caused conditions include irritable bowel syndrome, fibromyalgia, chronic pelvic pain syndrome, chronic fatigue syndrome, depression, impaired mentation, impaired memory, halitosis, tinnitus, sugar craving, autism, attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder, drug sensitivity, an autoimmune disease, and Crohn's disease. Also disclosed are a method of screening for the abnormally likely presence of SIBO in a human subject and a method of detecting SIBO in a human subject. A method of determining the relative severity of SIBO or a SIBO-caused condition in a human subject, in whom small intestinal bacterial overgrowth (SIBO) has been detected, is also disclosed.

1 - 20 . (canceled) 
     
     
         21 . A method of treating small intestinal bacterial overgrowth (SIBO) or a SIBO-caused condition in a human subject, said method comprising:
 depriving a population of proliferating bacteria of nutrient(s) sufficiently to inhibit the growth of said bacteria in the small intestine, and thereby at least partially eradicating SIBO in the human subject.   
     
     
         22 . The method of  claim 21 , wherein the SIBO-caused condition is selected from the group consisting of irritable bowel syndrome, fibromyalgia, chronic pelvic pain syndrome, chronic fatigue syndrome, depression, impaired mentation, impaired memory, halitosis, tinnitus, sugar craving, autism, attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder, drug sensitivity, an autoimmune disease, and Crohn's disease. 
     
     
         23 . The method of  claim 21 , wherein the SIBO-caused condition is irritable bowel syndrome. 
     
     
         24 . The method of  claim 21 , wherein depriving the population of proliferating bacteria of nutrient(s) comprises in the presence of SIBO in the human subject, causing the subject to consume, for a sustained period, a diet consisting essentially of nutrients that upon arrival in the upper gastrointestinal tract of the subject, are at least partially predigested, said sustained period being sufficient to at least partially eradicate SIBO in the human subject. 
     
     
         25 . The method of  claim 24 , wherein the period is at least about three days. 
     
     
         26 . The method of  claim 24 , wherein the at least partially predigested nutrients are contained in a commestible total enteral nutrition formulation. 
     
     
         27 . The method of  claim 24 , further comprising:
 administering to the subject a pancreatic enzyme supplement before or substantially simultaneously with a meal, such that nutrients contained in said meal are at least partially predigested in the upper gastrointestinal tract of the subject by the activity of said pancreatic enzyme supplement.   
     
     
         28 . The method of  claim 21 , further comprising:
 in the presence of SIBO in the human subject,   enhancing the digestion and/or absorption of the nutrient(s) in the upper gastrointestinal tract of said human subject by slowing transit of said nutrients across the upper gastrointestinal tract of said human subject, thereby at least partially depriving the bacterial population of the nutrient(s).   
     
     
         29 . A method of treating small intestinal bacterial overgrowth (SIBO) or a SIBO-caused condition in a human subject, said method comprising:
 introducing into the lumen of the small intestine of the subject a pharmaceutically acceptable disinfectant composition in an amount sufficient to inhibit the growth of said bacteria in the small intestine, and thereby at least partially eradicating SIBO in the human subject, or   administering to the subject a pharmaceutically acceptable composition comprising a stabilizer of mast cell membranes in the lumenal wall of the small intestine, in an amount sufficient to inhibit a mast cell-mediated immune response in the human subject.   
     
     
         30 . The method of  claim 29 , wherein the pharmaceutically acceptable disinfectant composition consists essentially of
 (A) hydrogen peroxide,   (B) a bismuth-containing compound,   (C) an iodine-containing compound, or   (D) a salt of (B) or (C).   
     
     
         31 . The method of  claim 29 , wherein the SIBO-caused condition is selected from the group consisting of irritable bowel syndrome, fibromyalgia, chronic pelvic pain syndrome, chronic fatigue syndrome, depression, impaired mentation, impaired memory, halitosis, tinnitus, sugar craving, autism, attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder, drug sensitivity, an autoimmune disease, and Crohn's disease. 
     
     
         32 . The method of  claim 29 , wherein the SIBO-caused condition is irritable bowel syndrome. 
     
     
         33 . The method of  claim 29 , wherein the stabilizer of lumenal mast cells is oxatamide or chromoglycate. 
     
     
         34 . A kit, comprising:
 a composition for at least partially eradicating SIBO selected from the group consisting of a commestible total enteral nutrition formulation, hydrogen peroxide, a bismuth-containing compound, an iodine-containing compound, a salt of bismuth-containing compound, a salt of iodine-containing compound, oxatamide, chromoglycate, and combinations thereof; and   instructions to use the composition to at least partially eradicate SIBO.   
     
     
         35 . The kit of  claim 34 , wherein the SIBO-caused condition is selected from the group consisting of irritable bowel syndrome, fibromyalgia, chronic pelvic pain syndrome, chronic fatigue syndrome, depression, impaired mentation, impaired memory, halitosis, tinnitus, sugar craving, autism, attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder, drug sensitivity, an autoimmune disease, and Crohn's disease. 
     
     
         36 . The kit of  claim 34 , wherein the SIBO-caused condition is irritable bowel syndrome.