Expert Care, Local, National, or Abroad, with Dr. Marcus Ettinger – Orange County’s Leading SIBO Specialist

Are you dealing with bloating, abdominal pain, gas, diarrhea, or constipation? Suppose you’ve been diagnosed with small intestine bacterial overgrowth (SIBO) or suspect it’s causing your symptoms. In that case, you need the expertise of Dr. Marcus Ettinger, a trusted SIBO specialist based in Orange County.

With over 35+ years of experience as an SIBO specialist, Dr. Ettinger has helped hundreds of patients regain their digestive health. He is known for his expertise in functional medicine, advanced diagnostics, and personalized treatment strategies. He provides compassionate, results-driven care for those suffering from SIBO and other digestive disorders.

Why Choose Dr. Ettinger as Your SIBO Specialist?

Dr. Ettinger takes a holistic, root-cause approach to treating SIBO and addresses SIBO from Cause to Cure using advanced testing and proven protocols. His work as a SIBO specialist extends to the treatment of:

  • Methane- and hydrogen-dominant SIBO
  • SIBO-C (constipation-predominant) and SIBO-D (diarrhea-predominant)
  • Complex, relapsing, and post-infectious SIBO
  • Pediatric SIBO
  • Polyol (sugar alcohol) induced SIBO
  • SIBO with visceral hypersensitivity and/or mast cell activation

Comprehensive GI Health Expertise

In addition to SIBO, Dr. Ettinger is experienced in managing related GI conditions, including H. pylori infections, candida overgrowth, histamine intolerance, food sensitivities, leaky gut, and malabsorption issues. His approach as a SIBO specialist ensures tailored solutions for lasting results.

Start Your Journey to Health with Orange County’s Trusted SIBO Specialist

Take control of your digestive health today by scheduling a complimentary 15-minute consultation with Dr. Marcus Ettinger, a premier SIBO specialist in Orange County. Experience the care and expertise you deserve on your path to optimal health.

Contact Dr. Ettinger at 714-639-4360 to start your journey back to an optimized life and digestive system.

Small intestinal bacterial overgrowth (SIBO).

During fasting, the upper gastrointestinal tract exhibits a periodic migrating contraction pattern known as the Migrating Motor Complex (MMC). The hormone motilin and the vagus nerve primarily regulate this mechanism.

The MMC, often called the “intestinal housekeeper,” is crucial in preventing small intestinal bacterial overgrowth (SIBO). SIBO is typically diagnosed using glucose or lactulose breath tests or by aspirate cultures from the small intestine and is defined as excessive bacterial growth in the small intestine (>10⁵ colony-forming units/ml). Common symptoms of SIBO include abdominal bloating, diarrhea (seen in approximately 80% of cases), constipation (20%), and abdominal pain.

Small intestinal dysmotility is a key contributor to the development of SIBO. Research consistently shows that a disordered or absent MMC pattern is strongly associated with SIBO. Experiments in rats have demonstrated that disruption of the MMC predisposes to bacterial overgrowth and translocation, highlighting the MMC as an essential mechanism for maintaining bacterial balance in the small intestine. The MMC’s protective function likely arises from the periodic migrating contractions that clear luminal contents toward the lower gastrointestinal tract.

Although motilin regulates the MMC, no direct evidence suggests it causes SIBO. One study observed elevated plasma motilin levels in scleroderma patients with bacterial overgrowth, but the clinical implications remain unclear.

Interestingly, while the MMC is necessary for controlling bacterial growth, the gut microbiome also influences MMC functionality. In germ-free rats, the MMC exhibits longer cycle lengths and fewer activity fronts that reach the small intestine’s midpoint. This reduced motility in germ-free animals is hypothesized to result from decreased excitability of neurons within the myenteric plexus. These findings suggest that a delicate interplay between the gut microbiota and MMC activity is essential for maintaining a healthy intestinal environment.

In conclusion, the MMC and the intestinal flora work synergistically to regulate gut health, highlighting the importance of balancing gastrointestinal motility and microbial composition. Further exploration of the roles of the MMC, motilin, and gut microbiota may lead to improved understanding and treatment strategies for conditions like SIBO.

As a SIBO specialist, I will ask you important questions to discover “if” and “why” you might have SIBO:

  • Do you burp more than you think you should?
  • Do you feel pain under your left rib cage?
  • Do you eat three meals per day and snacks in between meals?
  • Do you intermittent fast (IF)?
  • Do you alternate between loose bowels and constipation, or do you predominately experience constipation or diarrhea?
  • Do you take a daily probiotic or fiber supplement?
  • Do you fall asleep quickly?
  • Do you exercise regularly?
  • Do you eat, drink, or use sugar-free products (gum, drinks, food, toothpaste…) daily?
  • Did you recently have food poisoning, or were you on a course of antibiotics?
  • Are you an anxious or stressed person?
  • Do you take enzymes or HCL with meals?
  • Did you have a glucose or lactulose breath test?
  • Do you have or have you ever had gallstones?
  • Do you regularly spend time in the sun?
  • Do you have any underlying health conditions or risk factors such as celiac disease, diabetes, or Crohn’s disease…?
  • Have you traveled outside the country?
  • Do you take or have you taken PPIs for a prolonged duration?
  • Have you had any recent surgeries?

Associated Symptoms or Conditions:

  • Bloating
  • Abdominal pain
  • Diarrhea
  • Constipation
  • Fatigue
  • Nausea
  • Acid reflux
  • Leaky gut
  • IBS (Irritable Bowel Syndrome)
  • Food intolerances
  • Autoimmune diseases
  • Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD)
  • Celiac disease
  • Chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS)
  • Fibromyalgia
  • Rosacea
  • Restless leg syndrome
  • Anxiety
  • Depression
  • Brain fog
  • Other Skin Diseases – Psoriasis, Eczema, Rashes, Acne