The possible role of breath methane measurement in detecting carbohydrate malabsorption
Corazza, G.R.; Benati, G.; Strocchi, A.; Malservisi, S.; Gasbarrini, G.
Journal of Laboratory and Clinical Medicine 124(5): 695-700
1994
ISSN/ISBN: 0022-2143 PMID: 7964127 Document Number: 425936
To evaluate the possibility that measurement of breath methane (CH-4) enhances the accuracy of breath hydrogen (H-2) testing to diagnose carbohydrate malabsorption, breath CH-4, concentration of healthy subjects was studied. Fasting breath CH-4, concentration measured three times over a 30-minute period in 44 CH-4,-producing volunteers ranged from 5 to 120 ppm. Fluctuation of breath CH-4 excretion exceeded 100% increase over fasting in 1 of 9 subjects who ingested a nonabsorbable, carbohydrate-free solution. Out of 13 subjects who had a false negative breath H, response to lactulose, 11 had a CH-4, percentage increase greater than 100%. In 11 of 32 lactose-intolerant patients with a negative breath H-2 test, CH-4, percentage increase after lactose challenge was greater than 100%. These data suggested that in methanogenic individuals, breath CH-4, measurement might enhance the accuracy of H-2 breath testing in detecting carbohydrate malabsorption.