Fibromyalgia - Disruption of Intestinal Flora

After having learned about irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), and leaky gut syndrome (LGS), and small intestinal bacterial overgrowth (SIBO), surely nothing else could go wrong with the gastrointestinal tract in the fibromyalgic! Right? Well, there is one more issue, and that is the very real possibility of having a disruption of normal intestinal flora (the bacterial composition primarily in the lower intestine or colon). While we have established that there are normally relatively few bacteria in the upper or small intestine, the colon is literally packed with bacteria. These bacteria when present in normal percentages (which means there is a preponderance of "friendly bacteria"), have a tremendous influence on not only intestinal health, but also our overall body health. Here is why they are important. These bacteria have a stimulatory effect on the immune system. They are essential for nutrient uptake, increasing the bioavailability of vitamins, minerals, enzymes, and fatty acids. Their presence helps keep unfriendly microbes in check, and they support overall healthy bowel function.

Unfortunately there are multiple negative influences that can disrupt the normal intestinal flora's composition. These include dietary habits, especially a diet too high in sugar, excessive alcohol consumption, the use of the non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (the NSAIDS) which virtually all fibromyalgics take, and the use of antibiotics, amongst other causes. Antibiotics almost invariably kill off the "good" bacteria, allowing an overgrowth of the "bad" bacteria.

Whatever the cause of the disruption of the normal flora, the consequences can be severe, and include the following:

The support of the body's normal intestinal flora, or the re-establishment of an altered flora should be the goal of every fibromyalgic.