Deeper Understanding of SIBO and IBS with Dr. Mark Pimentel: Rational Wellness Podcast 397

Dr. Mark Pimentel discusses a Deeper Understanding of SIBO and IBS with moderator Dr. Ben Weitz at the Functional Medicine Discussion Group meeting on January 23, 2025.
Dr. Mark Pimentel is a distinguished gastroenterologist, researcher, and innovator in the field of gut health and microbiome science.  He is the Executive Director of the Medically Associated Science and Technology program at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, where he leads a multidisciplinary team focused on understanding and treating diseases linked to the gut microbiome.  Dr. Pimentel is internationally recognized for his pioneering research in Small Intestinal Bacterial Overgrowth and Irritable Bowel Syndrome.  His landmark work established SIBO as a leading cause of IBS, fundamentally altering the way such patients are diagnosed and treated. He also developed the first non-invasive breath test to identify SIBO, which has become a standard diagnostic tool globally, including the Triosmart SIBO breath test that measures three gases—hydrogen, methane, and hydrogen sulfide.  He has developed a blood test for measuring antibodies that documents the autoimmune origin of SIBO, the IBS Smart test.  He has mapped out the microbiome of the small intestine for the first time and he now has documented the specific microbes that cause the three forms of SIBO.  He pioneered the use of Rifaximin, a minimally absorbed antibiotic that has become a cornerstone treatment for SIBO and he is actively developing additional and better therapies for treating the root causes of SIBO, which is one of the reasons that Dr. Pimentel’s work has been so embraced by the Functional Medicine community, sharing our focus on root cause medicine.

Dr. Ben Weitz is available for Functional Nutrition consultations specializing in Functional Gastrointestinal Disorders like IBS/SIBO and Reflux and also Cardiometabolic Risk Factors like elevated lipids, high blood sugar, and high blood pressure.  Dr. Weitz has also successfully helped many patients with managing their weight and improving their athletic performance, as well as sports chiropractic work by calling his Santa Monica office 310-395-3111.