Assessment of Biochemical, Inflammatory Biomarkers and Ultra-Processed Food Consumption in Children with Small Intestinal Bacterial Overgrowth: A Cross-Sectional Study.

This study evaluated anthropometric, biochemical, and inflammatory biomarkers, as well as dietary intake in Brazilian children diagnosed with small intestinal bacterial overgrowth (SIBO) and compared them with their counterparts without SIBO. This was a cross-sectional study with 106 children aged 7 to 10 years. A glucose-hydrogen breath test was performed to diagnose small intestinal bacterial overgrowth (SIBO). Anthropometric and dietary characteristics were assessed. Blood samples were collected and serum biochemical parameters and cytokines were measured. The occurrence of SIBO was 13.2%. Age, BMI, BMI/age WC, BFP, sex and biochemical markers were similar between SIBO-positive and SIBO-negative children ( this study identified for the first time an occurrence of 13% of SIBO in children living in the northeastern region of Brazil and showed that consumption of ultra-processed foods and serum levels of IL-6 may influence the occurrence of the SIBO in the pediatrics population.