Gut Health: When Bloating Is More Than Just Bloating

Understanding SIBO and how a simple breath test can help uncover what's happening in your gut

We've all experienced it. That uncomfortable bloated feeling after a meal, unexplained stomach cramps, or digestive symptoms that seem to appear out of nowhere.

But what happens when these symptoms become a regular occurrence?

While occasional digestive discomfort is common, persistent bloating, excessive gas, abdominal pain, diarrhoea or constipation could be your gut's way of telling you that something isn't quite right.

One possible explanation is Small Intestinal Bacterial Overgrowth (SIBO), a digestive condition that is increasingly recognised as a potential contributor to ongoing gastrointestinal symptoms (Bedfont Scientific Limited, 2026).

The good news? Advances in non-invasive diagnostic technology are helping healthcare professionals investigate what's happening inside the digestive system, sometimes with something as simple as a breath test.

What exactly is SIBO?

Your digestive system is home to trillions of microorganisms, many of which play an essential role in keeping you healthy.

But when it comes to gut bacteria, location matters.

Most of your gut bacteria naturally reside in the large intestine. The small intestine also contains bacteria, but normally in much smaller quantities.

SIBO occurs when excessive numbers of bacteria accumulate in the small intestine, potentially interfering with normal digestion and nutrient absorption (Pimentel et al., 2020).

These bacteria can begin fermenting carbohydrates in the small intestine, producing gases that contribute to uncomfortable digestive symptoms.

According to Bedfont Scientific Limited (2026), factors associated with SIBO include impaired intestinal movement, reduced stomach acid and structural changes following gastrointestinal surgery.

Could your gut symptoms be trying to tell you something?

SIBO doesn't always announce itself clearly. In fact, its symptoms can look remarkably similar to those of other digestive conditions.

Common symptoms include:

• Persistent bloating, particularly after meals

• Excessive gas and abdominal discomfort

• Diarrhoea or constipation

• Abdominal pain or cramping

• Fatigue and, in some cases, nutritional deficiencies

  
  

Here's where things become tricky.

Many of these symptoms also occur in conditions such as irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), coeliac disease and other gastrointestinal disorders.

This overlap makes clinical assessment important. Rather than assuming every case of bloating is simply IBS or food intolerance, healthcare professionals may need to investigate other possible causes (Pimentel et al., 2020).

Not every bloated stomach means SIBO, but persistent symptoms deserve more than guesswork.

Your breath can reveal more than you think

What if something as simple as breathing into a diagnostic device could provide valuable clues about your digestive health?

That's the principle behind Hydrogen and Methane Breath Testing (HMBT).

When microorganisms in the digestive tract ferment carbohydrates, they can produce gases such as hydrogen and methane. These gases are absorbed into the bloodstream, transported to the lungs and released through exhaled breath.

By measuring the concentration of these gases, healthcare professionals can gather information about gastrointestinal fermentation patterns and investigate conditions such as SIBO and intestinal methanogen overgrowth (Pimentel et al., 2020).

Bedfont Scientific Limited (2026) highlights HMBT as a non-invasive approach that can support the investigation of suspected SIBO.

How does the test work?

The process is relatively straightforward.

First, patients follow a specific preparation protocol, which may include dietary restrictions and fasting.

During the test, they drink a measured sugar solution, usually containing glucose or lactulose. Breath samples are then collected at scheduled intervals to measure changes in hydrogen and, where supported by the device, methane concentrations.

These measurements help clinicians identify patterns that may suggest abnormal microbial fermentation.

Clinical guidelines recognise glucose and lactulose breath testing as options for investigating SIBO in selected symptomatic patients, although the evidence supporting these recommendations is of very low certainty (Pimentel et al., 2020).

The important distinction is that breath testing supports clinical diagnosis; it does not replace a comprehensive medical assessment. Preparation, test selection and professional interpretation all influence the reliability of results.

Why measuring both hydrogen and methane matters

Not everyone produces the same pattern of digestive gases.

Some individuals predominantly produce hydrogen, while others have increased methane production.

Methane is particularly interesting because it has been associated with constipation and slower intestinal transit.

The American College of Gastroenterology distinguishes methane-associated intestinal methanogen overgrowth (IMO) from bacterial overgrowth, because methane-producing microorganisms are archaea rather than bacteria (Pimentel et al., 2020).

This distinction matters when investigating different patterns of digestive symptoms.

Measuring both gases can provide additional information, particularly when constipation is a prominent symptom.

Gastrolyzer®: Bringing breath analysis into digestive health

Technology is helping make gastrointestinal investigations less invasive and more accessible.

Bedfont Scientific's Gastrolyzer® range has been developed to support healthcare professionals in investigating gastrointestinal conditions through breath analysis.

The range includes two different approaches:

Gastro+™ Gastrolyzer®

A portable, handheld device that measures hydrogen in exhaled breath. It provides a practical option for hydrogen breath testing in clinical settings.

GastroCH₄ECK®

A desktop breath analysis system designed to measure both hydrogen and methane, offering additional diagnostic information for gastrointestinal investigations. It also supports breath-bag sample collection for remote testing workflows.

Both devices form part of Bedfont's approach to non-invasive gastrointestinal investigation, with the appropriate device selected according to clinical and testing requirements (Bedfont Scientific Limited, 2026).

Better insights, more informed decisions

Living with persistent digestive discomfort can be frustrating, especially when symptoms are difficult to explain.

Breath testing offers healthcare professionals an additional tool to investigate possible underlying causes rather than relying on symptoms alone.

When SIBO or intestinal methanogen overgrowth is identified, treatment can be tailored to the patient's clinical circumstances. Management may include addressing underlying causes, appropriate medication and selected dietary interventions (Pimentel et al., 2020).

The objective is not simply to treat bloating, but to better understand what may be contributing to it.

Supporting smarter digestive health diagnostics in South Africa

At Diagno, we believe that better healthcare starts with better diagnostic insights.

As a distributor of Bedfont Scientific's Gastrolyzer® technology, Diagno supports access to innovative breath-testing solutions that help healthcare professionals investigate gastrointestinal disorders in a practical, non-invasive way.

From hydrogen breath testing to combined hydrogen and methane analysis, Gastrolyzer® technology provides opportunities for healthcare practices and diagnostic facilities to expand their gastrointestinal diagnostic capabilities.

Because sometimes, understanding what's happening in the gut starts with a single breath.

Interested in bringing Gastrolyzer® technology into your practice?

Contact Diagno to learn more about Bedfont's Gastrolyzer® range and how hydrogen and methane breath testing could complement your diagnostic service offering.

Disclaimer: This article is intended for educational purposes and does not replace professional medical advice. Persistent gastrointestinal symptoms should be assessed by a qualified healthcare professional.

References

Bedfont Scientific Limited. (2026, July 1). Spotlight on SIBO: Using hydrogen and methane breath testing (HMBT) to aid diagnosis. https://www.bedfont.com/category/gastrolyzer/

Pimentel, M., Saad, R. J., Long, M. D., & Rao, S. S. C. (2020). ACG clinical guideline: Small intestinal bacterial overgrowth. The American Journal of Gastroenterology, 115(2), 165–178. https://doi.org/10.14309/AJG.0000000000000501