SIBO makes you tired by impairing nutrient absorption, increasing inflammation, and disrupting gut-brain energy balance.
There are many side effects of Small Intestinal Bacterial Overgrowth (SIBO) associated with SIBO. One condition patients suffering from SIBO frequently complain of is unexplained fatigue.
Most people associate SIBO with digestive discomfort like bloating or stomach pain. Many people are not aware that it can drain your energy significantly.
Over the years, I’ve treated countless patients struggling with this mysterious fatigue, and here’s what I’ve discovered.
The Connection Between Gut and Energy
In my clinical experience, your gut plays a powerful role in how energized—or drained—you feel each day.
When your digestive system isn’t functioning properly, your body can’t absorb essential nutrients like vitamin B12, iron, and magnesium—nutrients your cells need to produce energy.
Some of my patients eat super healthy and still feel wiped out. The missing link? Their gut isn’t absorbing what their body needs.
6 Reasons Why Does SIBO Make You So Tired
After working with many SIBO patients, I’ve identified some of the main reasons why this condition leads to fatigue:
Nutrient Malabsorption
One of the first things I check for is nutrient deficiencies. To do this, I don’t guess, I test my patients with a micronutrient blood test. The bacteria in the small intestine often compete for nutrients, particularly iron, vitamin B12, vitamin D, and folic acid.
These deficiencies can leave you feeling exhausted and weak, no matter how much rest you get.
Increased Inflammation
Chronic inflammation is another common thread in SIBO cases. Inflammation activates the immune system and releases cytokines—proteins that regulate inflammation but also make you feel fatigued.
Your body behaves as though it’s fighting a persistent, low-level infection around the clock.
Disrupted Sleep Patterns
Many of my patients tell me they have trouble sleeping due to bloating or abdominal discomfort, especially at night. Poor sleep reduces your body’s ability to recharge, compounding the exhaustion.
Increased Toxin Production
Harmful bacteria don’t just steal your nutrients—they also produce toxins. When these toxins enter your bloodstream, they can cause what we call “systemic toxicity,” which contributes to sluggishness and that foggy-headed feeling.
SIBO doesn’t just affect digestion—it can throw your hormones out of balance, too. I often see patients suffering from SIBO with imbalances in cortisol, serotonin, and melatonin—hormones that influence mood, energy, and sleep. When these are out of sync, fatigue follows.
Immune System Burden
Finally, SIBO places a continuous burden on the immune system. Your body is constantly working to control the overgrowth of harmful bacteria, and over time, this depletes energy reserves.
How Can Functional Medicine Help You With SIBO?
What makes functional medicine different is that we look for the root causes of symptoms like fatigue. My approach to treating SIBO-related fatigue includes:
- Comprehensive Testing: I typically recommend breath and stool tests to confirm SIBO and assess the overall gut microbiome. Plus, I check for nutrient deficiencies with a micronutrient blood test for 31 nutrients.
- Targeted Treatment: I use herbal antimicrobials, a tailored diet, determined by a specific blood test, and I recommend fermented foods to rebalance the gut microbiome.
- Ongoing Support: I focus on restoring the gut lining, managing stress, supporting sleep, and replenishing nutrient deficiencies.
FAQs
I know you have so many questions about gut issues and SIBO. Here I am adding some questions and their answers. If you want to get answers to your questions, you may join my community. Just click on the button below.
Can SIBO cause extreme fatigue?
Yes. SIBO can lead to extreme fatigue due to nutrient malabsorption, inflammation, and toxin buildup, all of which drain your body’s energy.
How can you increase energy with SIBO?
Focus on healing the gut using a functional medicine approach — this includes a personalized diet, targeted supplements, stress management, and treating the root cause of bacterial overgrowth.
Can bad gut bacteria cause fatigue?
Yes. An overgrowth of bad bacteria can disrupt digestion, hormone balance, and immune function, all of which contribute to chronic fatigue.
Conclusion
If you’re running on empty, no matter how much you rest, it might be time to take a closer look at your gut. In my clinical experience, I’ve witnessed how treating conditions like SIBO can dramatically boost energy and restore vitality. Chronic fatigue isn’t something you have to accept.
Struggling with SIBO and fatigue? Let’s work together to restore your gut and your energy. Book your free 15-minute personalized gut health consultation today—online.