SIBO in Rosacea
by Brady Barrows

SIBO refers to "Small bowel bacterial overgrowth syndrome (SBBOS), or small intestinal bacterial overgrowth (SIBO), also termed bacterial overgrowth; is a disorder of excessive bacterial growth in the small intestine." Wikipedia Source

It has also been called Dysbiosis (sometimes called dysbacteriosis).

The presence of small intestinal bacterial overgrowth (SIBO) in patients with rosacea has been investigated and the results of this study says, "We found an increased prevalence of SIBO in patients with rosacea compared to controls (40/60 vs 3/60, respectively, p<0.001). Oro-cecal transit time resulted significantly delayed in patients with SIBO than in controls (p<0.01). After SIBO eradication we obtained a complete recovery of cutaneous lesions in 17/20 (85%) and a relevant improvement in 2/20 (10%) patients, while those treated with placebo remained unchanged (14/16) or even worsened (2/16), (p<0,001). These latter patients were subsequently switched to rifaximin therapy with complete resolution of rosacea in 14/16 and significant improvement in the remaining 2 cases.
CONCLUSION: Our study shows the high prevalence of SIBO in patients with rosacea and emphasizes the clinical effectiveness of its eradication in inducing almost complete remission of cutaneous lesions."

SMALL INTESTINAL BACTERIAL OVERGROWTH IN ROSACEA: CLINICAL EFFECTIVENESS OF ITS ERADICATION.
United European Gastroenterology Week
Clin Gastroenterol Hepatol. 2008 Jul;6(7):759-64. Epub 2008 May 5
Parodi A, Paolino S, Greco A, Drago F, Mansi C, Rebora A, Parodi AU, Savarino V

You might notice that the above article says that "Patients positive for SIBO were randomized to receive rifaximin 1200 mg/die for 10 days or placebo...These latter patients were subsequently switched to rifaximin therapy with complete resolution of rosacea in 14/16 and significant improvement in the remaining 2 cases."

Wikipedia says that Rifaximin is "a semisynthetic, rifamycin-based non-systemic antibiotic, meaning that the drug will not pass the gastrointestinal wall into the circulation as is common for other types of orally administered antibiotics....It is currently sold in the U.S. under the brand name Xifaxan by Salix Pharmaceuticals. It's also sold in Europe under the name Spiraxin and Zaxine.." Source

Another source says "Rifaximin is effective in treatment of SIBO in IBS and controlled trials are warranted."

There is also evidence that SIBO occurs "in patients suffering from scleroderma" as well. Source

An EIR Report on SIBO says that according "to Dr. Leo Galland, a specialist in dysbiosis related illness, the best diet to aid in the treatment of SIBO is very similar to that used to treat yeast overgrowth. This being a diet free of simple sugars and grains/cereals and low in fruit and starchy vegetables depending on individual tolerance. This diet restricts the nutrition available for bacteria in the upper GI tract to proliferate and reduces the excess alcohols and organic acids that are produced as a result of bacterial fermentation."

I have been saying since 1999 that reducing carbohydrate effectively controls rosacea and wrote the book on this.

More on Bacterial Overgrowth

EIR Report on Treatment for SIBO

SIBO Discussion

Remember that the report in May 2008 by Parodi, et.al, says:

"This study demonstrated that rosacea patients have a significantly higher SIBO prevalence than controls. Moreover, eradication of SIBO induced an almost complete regression of their cutaneous lesions and maintained this excellent result for at least 9 months." source

Another discussion on SIBO

Dysbiosis and the cure for rosacea

H Pylori is related to SIBO since it is usually caused by a build up of gram negative bacteria because of an increase in stomach acid possibly due to aging. More on H Pylori as a factor in rosacea.