How does Gastroparesis cause bacterial overgrowth?
Gastroparesis is a condition in which the stomach empties slower than it normally should. This is not necessarily due to the food not being broken down by the HCl acid, but due the opening of the pyloric sphincter and stomach motility, and even the movement of food through the intestines. If someone is severely constipated, the stomach will not empty as quickly, simply because there is no where for its contents to go. Food stays in the stomach anywhere from a few minutes (fluids, soup, etc.) to 2 to 3 hours. The fattier or heavier the food is, the slower it empties. If food stays in the stomach too long, it starts to ferment, and gives bacteria in the stomach time to digest the food further. This means that the bacteria have a nutrition source they normally shouldn’t have, and can grow more. If food is not emptying out of the stomach, then it is also moving through the intestines and bowel slowly and in an over-digested state, giving that bacteria more time to “eat” your food and grow.
