Adopting specific dietary approaches, such as an anti-SIBO or low FODMAP diet, can significantly impact the gut’s bacterial environment. These diets limit the bacteria’s access to their preferred food sources, mainly fibers and specific sugars like lactose, fructose, sugar alcohols, and certain oligosaccharides.

While these dietary changes are effective in reducing the immediate symptoms of SIBO by restricting the food supply for the bacteria, their impact is often not long-lasting. Clinical observations have consistently shown that while such diets play a role in symptom management, they tend only to suppress symptoms for the duration of the diet.

FODMAP

In the past few years, certain clinicians have warned against the use of the low-FODMAP diet for all types of SIBO, including H2S SIBO, as it has the potential to reduce microbiome diversity, therefore possibly worsening the patient’s gut health.48 This notion emphasises the importance of a holistic approach so that patients will not only be helped in the short-term, but will sustain long-term improvements

Low-Sulfur Diet
Following a low-sulfur diet is a key dietary modification for individuals with H2S SIBO. This involves limiting the intake of sulfur-rich foods such as cruciferous vegetables (broccoli, cauliflower, kale, and sprouts), red meat, eggs, dried fruits, beer, and wine. By reducing the consumption of these high-sulfur foods, the excessive gas production from hydrogen sulfide can be minimized, leading to symptom relief

Low-Fat
This dietary approach primarily aims to reduce bile release. Bile, a digestive fluid produced in the liver, can aggravate SIBO symptoms when produced in excess. By lowering fat intake, the production and release of bile are moderated, which helps in alleviating the digestive strain and aids in the healing process of the gut.