Root Cause Research

As a health researcher, I cannot avoid trying to understand the mechanism and cause of my condition. I want to summarize and share information as I find it for my own notes, and to potentially help one of my fellow SIBO/IBS/Leaky Gut/Low T3 Syndrome/Malabsorption/Adrenal Fatigue folks!

Clostridium Difficile Toxin B and Vinculin Auto-antibodies
C. diff is one of many bacterial strains linked to instances of food poisoning and gastrointestinal issues, and produces two toxins (A and B). To combat food poisoning, your body makes antibodies against these toxins, and literature shows that the antibody for toxin B (CDT-B) is also sensitive to a protein called Vinculin.

Vinculin is a protein that is essential to proper functioning of the electrical stimulus responsible for pushing food around or small and large intestines. This function is what is called motility, and impaired motility is linked to SIBO.

Ileocecal Valve
This valve is between the start of the large intestine and end of the small intestine, and is responsible for making sure that food moves from the small intestine into the large intestine. Improper function of this valve can lead to large intestine bacteria moving into the small intestine, leading to SIBO.

This valve is located near the appendix, and pain due to this valve tends to be diagnosed as appendicitis.

I find this particularly interesting because I have had lower right abdominal pain for as long as I have had my other symptoms. I had an MRI and ultrasound, but nothing came of it (as with all other loose ends we pursue in seeking a diagnosis for digestive issues).

Nutrients Essential in Thyroid Function
Nutrient deficiencies associated with malabsorption from leaky gut (caused by SIBO) can impact the thyroids ability to produce T4 and the body's ability to change T4 into T3, the active thyroid hormone essential to many body functions.

Some essential nutrients are:
Protein
Magnesium
B-12
Zinc
Iodine
B2
Vitamin C
Selenium
Vitamin D
Vitamin A

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References:
1) http://siboguru.com/
2) http://emedicine.medscape.com/article/179937-overview?pa=S3pqM53BeKVHVHd39yxCcqipNL27xV5pU5cKYaVsYrs9ZAVW4Mjin0syjsQfex%2BemqBvyHAGf1b3PC%2FeNqHG2U3B6KLODm2MpyHuPkYf%2Bs0%3D
3) http://hypothyroidmom.com/10-nutrient-deficiencies-every-thyroid-patient-should-have-checked/