If you’re constantly battling with persistent bloating, tummy pain, and unpredictable bowel habits, you may wonder if SIBO (Small Intestinal Bacterial Overgrowth) could be to blame. A condition where an abnormal increase in bacteria in the small intestine disrupts digestion and causes a range of uncomfortable side effects. If you’re now looking for the best supplements for SIBO to help ease those symptoms, you’re not alone. But what exactly is SIBO, and how common is it?
SIBO happens when you have too much bacteria (particularly types more common in the colon) growing in the small intestine. This overgrowth can interfere with normal digestion and nutrient absorption, leading to a range of symptoms including bloating, diarrhoea, and deficiencies.
According to Guts UK, SIBO is often underdiagnosed and frequently affects people living with other underlying conditions like irritable bowel syndrome, coeliac disease, or diabetes. In fact, studies suggest that up to 78% of people with IBS may also have SIBO, highlighting just how widespread this relatively unknown condition is.
Are there any supplements for SIBO that could help?
If you’ve been diagnosed with SIBO (which can be a lengthy process, involving many tests and trips to the doctor) or suspect you might have it, you might be focused on the so-called ‘kill phase’. Where antibiotics or herbal antimicrobials can be used to reduce the overgrowth of bacteria. This can help ease your symptoms in the long term and is well worth exploring, but don’t forget to top up your nutrient levels with the right vitamins for SIBO in the meantime.
A must, because SIBO, much like other gut conditions such as Crohn's and coeliac (Find out more about the best supplements for Crohn's here or read The 6 Best Supplements for Coeliac), can cause malabsorption and you might not be getting enough essential vitamins and minerals. Putting you at risk of developing deficiencies that could lead to yet more frustrating symptoms – something you could definitely do without! That’s where these six supplements for SIBO come in:
B12 – number 1 on your supplements for SIBO list:
SIBO can interfere with B12 absorption, especially if the bacterial overgrowth includes a methane producing type called archaea, that feed on food particles in the small intestine and release methane gas. This slows down the movement of the gut and also prevents as many nutrients from being absorbed.
Low B12 can trigger everything from fatigue to poor memory, nerve issues, which manifest as tingling or numbness in your hands and feet, or even a low mood. All things you want to avoid!
Our B12 Plus Patch can help swerve these symptoms because it delivers an active form of B12 (methylcobalamin) directly through the skin, bypassing the gut. Making this handy patch one of your ideal supplements for SIBO, because you don’t need to worry about the active ingredients being lost because of your compromised digestion.
Iron:
Iron deficiency is common in SIBO because bacteria can ‘steal’ the iron you consume for their own use – cheeky! Plus, the inflammation that bacterial overgrowth in the gut triggers can affect absorption, too.
Low iron can leave you feeling tired and weak, breathless, dizzy, and you might look pale or washed out. For a deeper dive on iron deficiency symptoms to look out for read 5 surprising signs you need to increase iron levels and how to do it.
To help protect yourself from developing iron deficiency anaemia, we recommend our Iron Plus Patch with gentle, bioavailable ferrous bisglycinate. It supports healthy iron levels without upsetting your stomach – a huge plus if you’ve already got digestive issues, and why it’s number 2 in supplements for SIBO you might find helpful.
Magnesium:
Low magnesium is another common side effect of SIBO, especially if you’ve been experiencing diarrhoea, a frequent symptom of bacterial overgrowth in your gut.
You need your magnesium levels to be up to scratch to help you sleep well, manage stress, and keep your bones and muscles healthy. But that’s just the tip of the iceberg, because magnesium is essential for an estimated 300 processes in the body. So if you’re not getting enough, you’ll probably feel it!
Our Tri-Mag Complex is another one of our recommended supplements for SIBO because it contains three highly absorbable forms of magnesium. It’s a customer favourite for improving sleep, boosting calm, supporting bone and muscle health, and preventing painful cramps.
Fat-soluble vitamins A, D, E, and K:
Another super frustrating SIBO side effect is that it disrupts fat absorption. Not only can this cause frequent tummy upsets, it also makes it tricky for your body to absorb fat-soluble vitamins – sigh.
If your levels of vitamins A, D, E, and K aren’t where they should be, it could affect your immune system, hormone balance, bone strength, and much more. Vitamin E is a must for skin health and can contribute to healing the gut lining, so it’s particularly important if you’re living with SIBO.
Our Multivitamin Plus Patch covers all four fat-soluble vitamins (A, D3, E, and K2), along with other key nutrients like B12, folate, and zinc. One of the great all-rounder supplements for SIBO if you’re rebuilding from deficiency or trying to stay on top of things while you get your SIBO symptoms sorted.
Zinc -another one of our top recommended supplements for SIBO:
Getting enough zinc can help with tissue repair and contribute to maintaining a strong gut barrier, both of which are under pressure if you’ve got SIBO.
If you’re low on zinc, you might find yourself succumbing to every cold doing the rounds, or cuts and bruises could take longer than usual to heal. Your skin could feel dry, and you might even experience some hair loss or thinning.
The L-Lysine/Zinc Patch is the ideal way to top up because you have the peace of mind that the active ingredients are making it to where you need them most and aren’t being flushed away when you go to the loo. Something that can frequently happen with oral supplements if you have a gut issue that affects absorption.
This handy patch also combines zinc with selenium, both of which are handy supplements for SIBO because they can help to support the immune system, AND reduce inflammation, especially in the gut.
Prokinetics:
Prokinetics are substances that support gut motility and are often essential after SIBO treatment to help prevent the bacteria from going crazy and causing a relapse.
They work by keeping food – and bacteria – moving through your digestive tract, reducing the risk of overgrowth happening again. While some people use prescription options, natural choices include ginger and 5-HTP. You’ll find 5-HTP in patches like our Focus Plus patch.
Full transparency is really important to us as a business; our priority is helping you feel fit and healthy. So it’s important to share that taking an oral prokinetic supplement might work better than a patch, because it travels through the digestive tract, stimulating motility where it’s needed.
Hopefully, that’s given you a helping hand in deciding which supplements for SIBO you should consider taking. If you’re looking for a simple place to start, the Multivitamin Plus Patch is a great option that covers all the most common deficiencies in one easy step.
