If you have gastritis and feel bloated, you’re not alone. Bloating is one of the most common symptoms people with gastritis experience. Let’s explore the connection between gastritis and bloating, and what you can do about it.
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The Short Answer: Yes, Gastritis Can Cause Bloating
Research shows that bloating is a frequent symptom of gastritis. In fact, studies have found it’s one of the main complaints people have when dealing with stomach inflammation.
Multiple clinical trials have demonstrated that when gastritis improves, bloating often gets better too. This strong connection suggests that gastritis directly contributes to bloating symptoms.
How Common Is Bloating with Gastritis?
Bloating affects many people with different types of gastritis.
In chronic superficial gastritis, a study found that teprenone treatment achieved a 90.9% effectiveness rate for reducing flatulence and bloating (1). This high success rate shows just how common bloating is in this condition.
For people with H. pylori gastritis, bloating is also a major issue. Studies have found that H. pylori treatment combinations can improve bloating symptoms, though the degree of improvement may vary between different treatment approaches (2).
Why Does Gastritis Cause Bloating?
When your stomach lining is inflamed, several things happen that can lead to bloating.
Inflammation Affects Digestion
Gastritis causes inflammation in your stomach lining. This inflammation can interfere with normal digestion, leading to gas buildup and that uncomfortable bloated feeling.
The inflamed stomach may not produce the right amounts of digestive acids and enzymes. This can slow down digestion and cause food to sit in your stomach longer than usual.
Changes in Stomach Function
Research on functional dyspepsia (which often involves gastritis) shows that stomach movement problems can contribute to bloating. Interestingly, a study found that cisapride, a medication that improves stomach motility, helped reduce continual bloating more in people without gastritis than in those with gastritis (3). This suggests that the causes of bloating may be different when gastritis is present.
Bacterial Overgrowth
H. pylori bacteria, which causes many cases of gastritis, may contribute to bloating. When these bacteria are eliminated through treatment, bloating often improves significantly (4).
Different Types of Gastritis and Bloating
Not all gastritis is the same, but bloating appears to be common across different types.
Chronic Non-Atrophic Gastritis
This type of gastritis can cause significant bloating. A study of patients with chronic non-atrophic gastritis with erosions found that treatment with LiWei Capsule led to improvements in bloating symptoms (5).
Chronic Superficial Gastritis
People with chronic superficial gastritis often experience bloating as a primary symptom. Research has shown that nutritional interventions can significantly reduce bloating in these patients (6).
Bile Reflux Gastritis
This occurs when bile backs up into the stomach, often after gallbladder surgery. Studies show that medications like rabeprazole and hydrotalcite can help relieve bloating in these patients (7).
How to Manage Gastritis-Related Bloating
The good news is that treating gastritis often helps reduce bloating. Here are approaches that research has shown to be effective.
Medications That Help
Several types of medications can help with gastritis-related bloating:
- Proton pump inhibitors (PPIs): These reduce stomach acid and can help heal gastritis
- Gastroprotective agents: Medications like rebamipide have been shown to improve bloating in people with functional dyspepsia and gastritis (8)
- Antacids and coating agents: Sucralfate can help reduce bloating in alkaline reactive gastritis (9)
Natural Approaches
Some natural treatments have shown promise for reducing gastritis symptoms including bloating:
- Probiotics: Adding probiotics to H. pylori treatment can reduce side effects like bloating (4)
- Nutritional supplements: A combination of wheat peptides and fucoidan has been shown to significantly reduce bloating in chronic superficial gastritis (6)
- Traditional Chinese Medicine: Jinghuaweikang capsules combined with standard therapy have shown improvements in bloating symptoms from baseline, though the improvement may not be significantly different from standard therapy alone (10)
Alternative Therapies
Some alternative approaches may help with symptoms. For example, static magnetic field exposure has been studied for erosive gastritis, with patients reporting improvements in bloating (11).
When Bloating Might Not Be From Gastritis
While gastritis commonly causes bloating, other conditions can too. It’s important to get the right diagnosis.
Sometimes what seems like gastritis-related bloating might actually be from:
- Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS)
- Food intolerances
- Small intestinal bacterial overgrowth (SIBO)
- Other digestive disorders
Your doctor can help determine if your bloating is truly from gastritis or if other factors are involved.
The Bottom Line
Yes, gastritis can definitely cause bloating. It’s one of the most common symptoms people with gastritis experience. The good news is that when you treat the gastritis, the bloating often improves too.
If you’re dealing with gastritis-related bloating, work with your healthcare provider to find the right treatment approach. This might include medications, dietary changes, or natural supplements. Many effective options are available to help you feel better.
Remember that everyone’s experience with gastritis is different. What works for one person might not work for another. Be patient as you find the right combination of treatments for your symptoms.