ABSTRACT
Small intestinal bacterial overgrowth [SIBO] may have a role in the pathophysiology of irritable bowel syndrome [IBS]. So, the aim of this study was to assess the association between SIBO and IBS by using glucose breath test [GBT] in Kerman city as the first study in Iranian population. 107 patients with IBS and 107 healthy individuals were enrolled in our study. All the participants underwent GBT. A peak of H2 values >20 p.p.m above the basal value after glucose ingestion was considered suggestive of SIBO. SPSS software version 17 was used for data analysis. P value < 0.05 was considered as statistically significant. Of the 107 patients with IBS, 40 had positive GBT [37.4%] compared with 14[12.1%] out of the 107 control participants [p< 0.001]. Dominant symptoms in patients with IBS were diarrhea in 36[33.6%], constipation in 12[11.2%], abdominal pain in 22[20.6%], bloating in 28[26.2%], and change in bowel habit in 9[8.4%] patients. There was not statistically significant difference among any of this IBS subgroups and positive GBT [p=0.44]. There is a positive association between IBS and SIBO. We suggest a Placebo-controlled bacterial eradication study for identifying the role of SIBO in IBS