We’ve got a special episode for you today. Erin sits down with Dr. Mark Pimentel, researcher, clinician, and cofounder of Gemelli Biotech™, to discuss the latest research on IBS, SIBO, and new testing options for people who have struggled with these conditions. This is definitely a higher level podcast interview, so this episode is great for clinicians, practitioners, anyone who loves to geek out on gut health and research, or anyone who’s been struggling with IBS or SIBO and looking for answers. Erin and Mark discuss leading causes of IBS, the overlap of IBS & SIBO, why patients are often being dismissed in other practices, how the blood tests and breath tests for diagnosing these conditions work, why the treatment strategies are nuanced, and much more.

What makes Dr. Mark Pimentel's insights noteworthy is he’s not just a researcher; he’s also a clinician, and it’s the process of taking that information and applying it to humans where we learn so much. This is an episode you’ll want to refer back to - share with someone who could use this information!

In this episode:

-Why today’s guest is particularly noteworthy [1:08]

-Why Mark Pimentel continues his research [8:42]

-What is the leading cause of IBS? [10:37]

-The value behind the ibs-smart™ blood test [13:32]

-Inferring antibody patterns in post-infectious IBS [16:23]

-New research that debunks two widely accepted concepts about SIBO [21:41]

-The overlap between post-infectious IBS and SIBO [23:26]

-New info on PPI (proton pump inhibitor) use and SIBO [27:45]

-The potential problem with akkermansia as a probiotic supplement & other single-organism treatments [30:43]

-How does Intermittent Fasting or fluid affect the migrating motor complex & should these strategies be considered for IBS? [37:28]

-Hydrogen sulfide and the trio-smart® breath test for SIBO [39:18]

-How treatment differs for hydrogen-dominant SIBO (SIBO-D), Intestinal Methanogen Overgrowth (IMO) & hydrogen sulfide SIBO (H2S SIBO) [45:25]

-Does constipation with H2S occur? [48:55]

-The various types of bacteria that produce hydrogen gas [51:02]

-The mechanism of action of lovastatin as future treatment for methane in constipation [53:26]

-Using prokinetics for low motility [55:35]

-Pimentel’s thoughts on the low FODMAP diet [56:56]

FOR OUR FULL LIST OF LINKS + RESOURCES, HEAD TO: https://www.erinholthealth.com/funktional-nutrition-podcast/2021/11/16/episode-181-sibo-amp-ibs-the-latest-research-amp-testing-options-with-dr-mark-pimentel