COMPENDIUM ON FUNCTIONAL MEDICINE - Flipbook - Page 632
The pattern of antibody elevation across these classes provides
important clinical information about the stage, chronicity, and
location of immune reactivity.
Pathophysiology: How SIBO and Gut Barrier Damage Drive Disease
When SIBO persists, several pathological processes unfold:
The SIBO-Immune-Barrier Cascade
Initial Bacterial Overgrowth
Disruption of normal protective mechanisms allows excessive
bacterial growth in the small intestine [9].
Local Immune Activation
The immune system responds to bacterial antigens and toxins with
inflammation mediated by innate immune cells and antibody
production [10].
Barrier Compromise
Inflammation damages tight junction proteins (occludin, zonulin),
increasing intestinal permeability or "leaky gut" [11].
Systemic Immune Effects
Bacterial toxins and food antigens cross the damaged barrier,
triggering systemic immune activation [12].
Potential Autoimmunity
Through molecular mimicry or loss of immune tolerance, some
individuals develop autoimmune reactions to their own tissues [13].
Array 22 helps identify where in this cascade an individual patient
may be, guiding appropriate intervention.
The Vicious Cycle of SIBO
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