mBiota Labs, a medical food company specializing in the management of GI conditions, recently released findings from a consumer survey on gut health.

Nearly half (44%) of Americans reported that they experience stomach discomfort or bloating within two hours of eating, and more than half (51%) think stomach issues like bloating, discomfort, or gas are normal.

Similarly, 75% of respondents said they’ve never heard of small intestinal bacterial overgrowth (SIBO), a digestive disorder commonly misdiagnosed as irritable bowel syndrome (IBS).

Of the 2,000 people surveyed, 14% have been diagnosed with IBS, and of those who received such a diagnosis, 41% said their doctor never mentioned SIBO as a possible cause of symptoms, which include discomfort, bloating, an urgent need to go to the bathroom, frequent belching or flatulence, alternating bowel habits between constipation and diarrhea, chronic constipation, and/or chronic diarrhea. Further, 27% of all respondents said that they feel dismissed when discussing gut health symptoms with their doctor.

“An estimated two-thirds of patients have SIBO, yet awareness remains remarkably low,” said Dr. Ali Rezaie, gastroenterologist and SIBO expert. “This lack of recognition often leads to years of misdiagnosis, despite the availability of simple, non-invasive diagnostic tests, delaying effective treatment and prolonging patient suffering.”

One in five respondents (20%) said that they think probiotics alone are enough to fix gut issues, and 72% have never heard of the elemental diet, a medical food protocol prescribed for certain gastrointestinal conditions. mBiota Labs specializes in medical foods that adhere to the elemental diet to manage conditions like SIBO, IBS, IBD, and more.

Over a third (35%) of respondents said they don’t know where to begin to fix their gut issues, and 27% said they don’t have the time to address it.

“Millions of people worldwide suffer from gastrointestinal disorders that significantly impact their quality of life and seeking a solution that offers relief often involves navigating a maze of restrictive diets, medications, and supplements,” said Krystyna Houser, founder of mBiota Labs.

More than half (57%) of respondents who reported suffering from chronic gut issues said they would consider an elemental diet instead of antibiotics. Of those, 26% said they would prefer a non-antibiotic treatment, and 18% said they are open to any clinically proven or science-backed treatment, with 14% agreeing that they’re desperate for relief.