Bloated abdomen

What you need to know about a bloated abdomen

The abdomen can swell because the intestine increases in volume, for example due to an infection or gas formation. A bloated abdomen often occurs together with a bloated feeling, flatulence and nausea and can be very uncomfortable. There are many different causes of a bloated feeling in the abdomen. One of the main causes is infection with large-intestinal parasites, excessive consumption of starchy foods or overgrowth of Candida albicans in the intestine.

Symptoms of a bloated abdomen

A bloated abdomen is an unpleasant sensation that you can recognise by the following symptoms:

• The abdomen is visibly swollen
• There may be a bloated feeling even when it is not visible
• An increase in gas in the intestines, resulting in flatulence
• Sometimes there is nausea or a reduced appetite

Tests for a bloated abdomen

If you regularly have a bloated abdomen or bloated feeling, stool testing through Darmklachten.nl may help. See our recommended test packages and individual modules below.

Causes of a bloated abdomen

There are several possible causes of a bloated abdomen or bloated feeling:

• Abnormal intestinal flora
  A decrease in healthy bacteria in the intestine often occurs together with an increase in yeasts, which can result in a bloated abdomen. The use of an antibiotic can also lead to a bloated abdomen, a bloated feeling, flatulence or diarrhoea. An increase in unfavourable intestinal bacteria and a decrease in healthy bacteria such as Lactobacillus is another possible cause of a bloated abdomen.
• Overgrowth of Candida or other yeasts
  Candida albicans is a yeast that produces gases and causes both a bloated feeling and flatulence. Candida can increase through eating starchy foods such as bread. People who are overweight and people with diabetes often have an increase in yeasts in the intestine.
• Infection with intestinal parasites is one of the most common causes
  One of the main causes of a bloated feeling in the abdomen is infection with Dientamoeba fragilis or Blastocystis hominis, parasites that can remain in the intestine for years. Almost no condition causes a bloated abdomen more often than these intestinal parasites. A commonly heard complaint with infection by Dientamoeba fragilis is: “My abdomen is bloated as if I were eight months pregnant.” Blastocystis hominis also causes a bloated abdomen and bloated feeling, flatulence, nausea and sometimes itching. Some people experience symptoms for years without knowing that they are infected with this parasite.
• Excessive consumption of starch or nuts
  Eating bread and other starchy foods is often the cause of a bloated abdomen or bloated feeling. In addition, excessive starch consumption increases the symptoms of Candida and parasites.
• Gluten intolerance
  Diarrhoea, flatulence and a bloated feeling occur when eating grains that contain gluten in people with gluten intolerance, coeliac disease. Children with coeliac disease more often have diarrhoea and abdominal pain. A characteristic feature is a rounded, bloated abdomen. They may be tired and have anaemia. The intestinal villi can become damaged or break down, resulting in reduced absorption of minerals. In adults, coeliac disease can present as migraine, depression, abdominal pain, a bloated abdomen and osteoporosis.
• Milk sugar intolerance
  Milk sugar intolerance can be the cause of a bloated feeling or bloated abdomen. Lactose is a sugar found in milk and milk products and is also known as milk sugar. Milk sugar intolerance causes flatulence, a bloated abdomen and diarrhoea. In the Netherlands, 15% of people cannot break down milk sugar. This can cause diarrhoea after drinking a glass of milk. Lactose is often added to foods and medicines. People with these conditions should always carefully check the ingredients of their food; even a small amount of milk sugar can cause a bloated feeling or bloated abdomen.
• Increase in histamine due to an enzyme deficiency
  A bloated abdomen, bloated feeling, flatulence or diarrhoea can be caused by high levels of histamine in the intestine. An increase in histamine occurs due to a lack of the enzyme (DAO) that breaks down histamine in the intestine. High histamine levels occur particularly with allergies and after consuming aged cheese, chocolate or red wine.
• Inflammation is accompanied by a bloated feeling in the abdomen, with an abnormal stool pattern
  Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis can be accompanied by prolonged severe diarrhoea or watery stools. This can occur as often as 10 times a day. The symptoms can also be milder and present as a bloated feeling and flatulence.
• Disorders of the pancreas or gallbladder
  Poor digestion of fats and starch often causes the abdomen to swell and leads to a bloated feeling. An infection or reduced function of the pancreas and gallbladder, or a decrease or increase in pancreatic elastase or bile salts, can be the cause.
• Constipation
  If someone goes to the toilet only once every 3 or 4 days, a bloated abdomen develops. The pressure in the abdomen is experienced as very uncomfortable. There is often an unproductive urge: you go to the toilet, but nothing comes out.
• Use of acid-suppressing medicines
  When there is insufficient stomach acid, food is not digested properly, which can lead to a bloated abdomen or bloated feeling.

More information about the tests

• Dientamoeba fragilis – Large-intestinal parasite – read more…
• Blastocystis hominis – Large-intestinal parasite – read more…
• Giardia lamblia – Small-intestinal parasite – read more…
• Cryptosporidium spp. – Small-intestinal parasite – read more…
• Digestive parameters pH, fat, starch, colour and consistency of the stool – read more…
• Intestinal flora analysis – Analysis of part of the intestinal microbiota – read more…
• Yeasts and fungi – Testing for the presence of, among others, Candida albicans – read more…
• Antigliadin and anti-ht-Transglutaminase – Markers for gluten intolerance – read more…
• Histamine intolerance – Testing for the absence of the enzyme Diamine oxidase – read more
• Lactose intolerance – Genotyping – read more…
• Calprotectin – Inflammation marker for Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis – read more…
• Lactoferrin – A natural antibiotic that helps immune cells eliminate harmful bacteria in the body – read more
• Transferrin – Traces of blood in the upper part of the digestive tract – read more…
• Beta-Defensin-2 – Anti-inflammatory substance formed exclusively by the large intestine and which protects it – read more
• Pancreatic elastase  – Breakdown of fat, starch and proteins – read more…
• Bile acids – Digestion of fat – read more…

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