What Causes Gut Fermentation Syndrome?

Affected Populations

Gut fermentation syndrome has been seen in all genders and age groups and in many industrialized countries, including the United States, Canada, and Japan. The disease is very rare, and while reported cases have been slightly higher in Japan, in general, the condition does not show strong patterns of favoring one country over another. Affected populations do often include those who have taken antibiotics for another health problem. Antibiotics destroy some of the healthy bacteria normally found in the gut, and this is believed to create an environment that allows yeast overgrowth to start. Combined with the high carbohydrate, sugar, or alcohol consumption typically seen in industrialized nations, this creates a breeding ground for the development of gut fermentation syndrome. Cases of this condition have occurred in a three-year-old girl, young individuals in their twenties and thirties, and those in their sixties. It is theorized individuals with a genetic predisposition to having faulty liver enzymes may be likely to be affected.