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Prevalence of small intestinal bacterial overgrowth in Parkinson's disease

Maurizio Gabrielli1, Patrizia Bonazzi, Emidio Scarpellini

  • 1Internal Medicine Department, Catholic University of Sacred Heart, Rome, Italy. mauriziogabrielli@gmail.com

Movement Disorders : Official Journal of the Movement Disorder Society
|April 27, 2011
PubMed
Abstract

Insights

Small intestinal bacterial overgrowth (SIBO) is common in Parkinson's disease (PD) patients, affecting over 54% compared to 8% in controls. This suggests a link between PD and SIBO, possibly due to gastrointestinal issues.

Area of Science:

  • Gastroenterology
  • Neurology
  • Microbiology

Background:

  • Parkinson's disease (PD) is linked to gastrointestinal (GI) motility disorders.
  • These GI abnormalities may predispose PD patients to small intestinal bacterial overgrowth (SIBO).

Purpose of the Study:

  • To determine the prevalence of SIBO in patients with Parkinson's disease.

Main Methods:

  • A cohort of Parkinson's disease patients and healthy controls were enrolled.
  • The glucose breath test was used to diagnose SIBO in all participants.

Main Results:

  • The study included 48 PD patients and 36 controls.
  • SIBO prevalence was significantly higher in PD patients (54.17%) versus controls (8.33%).
  • PD severity (Hoehn and Yahr stage, Unified PD Rating score) correlated with SIBO presence.

Conclusions:

  • Small intestinal bacterial overgrowth is highly prevalent in Parkinson's disease.
  • Gastrointestinal motility dysfunction is a likely contributing factor to SIBO in PD.

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