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Published on: April 26, 2019

Fecal calprotectin concentrations in patients with small intestinal bacterial overgrowth

Massimo Montalto1, Luca Santoro, Sara Dalvai

  • 1Institute of Internal Medicine, Catholic University, Rome, Italy. mmontalto@rm.unicatt.it

Digestive Diseases (Basel, Switzerland)
|April 24, 2008
PubMed
Abstract

Insights

Fecal calprotectin concentrations (FCC) in patients with small intestinal bacterial overgrowth (SIBO) were similar to healthy controls. This suggests SIBO does not involve subclinical intestinal inflammation primarily affecting neutrophils.

Area of Science:

  • Gastroenterology
  • Microbiology
  • Immunology

Background:

  • Small intestinal bacterial overgrowth (SIBO) is characterized by excessive bacteria in the proximal small bowel.
  • Current understanding lacks data on gut wall leukocyte presence and mucosal neutrophil turnover in SIBO patients.
  • Subclinical intestinal inflammation in SIBO remains largely uninvestigated.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To evaluate fecal calprotectin concentrations (FCC) in patients diagnosed with SIBO.
  • To determine if FCC can serve as an indicator of subclinical intestinal inflammation in SIBO.
  • To investigate potential neutrophil involvement in SIBO-related inflammation.

Main Methods:

  • A pilot study involving 40 consecutive SIBO patients (positive hydrogen glucose breath test) and 40 healthy controls.
  • Fecal calprotectin concentrations (FCC) were measured using ELISA.
  • Statistical comparison of mean FCC between SIBO patients and controls using an independent samples t-test.

Main Results:

  • No significant difference was observed in FCC between SIBO patients and healthy controls (p = 0.907).
  • The findings indicate that FCC levels do not increase in individuals with SIBO.
  • This suggests a lack of elevated neutrophil-related inflammation in the gut.

Conclusions:

  • This study provides the first evidence that FCC levels are comparable in SIBO patients and controls.
  • The results suggest that small intestinal bacterial overgrowth is not associated with subclinical intestinal inflammation involving neutrophils.
  • Further research may explore other inflammatory markers or mechanisms in SIBO.

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