Related Experiment Video

Updated: Dec 2, 2025

Assessment of Gastric Emptying in Non-obese Diabetic Mice Using a [13C]-octanoic Acid Breath Test
12:24

Assessment of Gastric Emptying in Non-obese Diabetic Mice Using a [13C]-octanoic Acid Breath Test

Published on: March 23, 2013

14.0K

Methane breath tests and blood sugar tests in children with suspected carbohydrate malabsorption

Christof Schneider1, Klaus D Wutzke1, Jan Däbritz2,3

  • 1Department of Pediatrics, Rostock University Medical Center, Ernst-Heydemann-Str. 8, 18057, Rostock, Germany.

Scientific Reports
|November 5, 2020
PubMed

Insights

Diagnosing pediatric carbohydrate malabsorption using hydrogen (H₂) and methane (CH₄) breath tests shows promise. A combined approach may improve accuracy for fructose and lactose malabsorption in children.

Area of Science:

  • Pediatric Gastroenterology
  • Diagnostic Testing
  • Clinical Nutrition

Background:

  • Carbohydrate malabsorption, including fructose malabsorption (FM) and lactose malabsorption (LM), is a frequent cause of pediatric gastrointestinal issues.
  • Hydrogen (H₂) and methane (CH₄) breath tests are common, non-invasive diagnostic tools, but their accuracy and the influence of non-hydrogen producers (NHP) require further investigation.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To compare the diagnostic accuracy of methane breath tests (MBT) and blood sugar tests (BST) against hydrogen breath tests (HBT) for FM and LM in children.
  • To evaluate the impact of non-hydrogen producers (NHP) on test reliability.
  • To assess the utility of clinical symptoms in diagnosing carbohydrate malabsorption.

Main Methods:

  • A study involving 187/82 tests in children aged 2-18 years with suspected FM/LM and chronic abdominal pain.
  • Comparison of H₂ breath tests (HBT) with methane breath tests (MBT) and blood sugar tests (BST).
  • Analysis of correlations between breath test results, blood sugar levels, and reported symptoms.

Main Results:

  • Significant correlations were observed between HBT and MBT/BST for both FM and LM.
  • MBT demonstrated high accuracy in diagnosing LM, with BST potentially serving as an exclusion test.
  • Additional MBT and BST offered no diagnostic advantage for FM. Non-hydrogen producers (NHP) remain a challenge for CH₄-based diagnostics.
  • Clinical symptoms reported during testing were unreliable for diagnosing FM/LM.

Conclusions:

  • A combined diagnostic approach utilizing HBT, MBT, and BST may enhance the diagnosis of carbohydrate malabsorption in pediatric patients.
  • Methane breath tests show particular utility for lactose malabsorption, while fructose malabsorption diagnosis remains complex, especially with NHP.
  • Relying solely on reported symptoms is not recommended for diagnosing pediatric carbohydrate malabsorption.

More Related Videos

Breath Collection from Children for Disease Biomarker Discovery06:09

Breath Collection from Children for Disease Biomarker Discovery

Published on: February 14, 2019

7.2K
One-step Metabolomics: Carbohydrates, Organic and Amino Acids Quantified in a Single Procedure09:28

One-step Metabolomics: Carbohydrates, Organic and Amino Acids Quantified in a Single Procedure

Published on: June 25, 2010

13.4K

Related Concept Videos

Serum Laboratory Studies, Stool Test, Breath Test01:30

Serum Laboratory Studies, Stool Test, Breath Test

Gastrointestinal (GI) diagnostic studies are pivotal in confirming, ruling out, diagnosing, or staging various diseases, including cancers. Following diagnosis, allocating time for discussions with the patient and providing informational resources is crucial. Diagnostic assessments of the GI tract often occur in outpatient settings like endoscopy suites or GI labs. Preparation for these tests may include dietary restrictions, fasting, liquid bowel preparations, laxatives, enemas, and the...
593
Glucose Transporters01:27

Glucose Transporters

Glucose transporters facilitate the transport of glucose across the cell membrane. In addition to glucose, some glucose transporters can also aid the movement of other hexoses such as fructose, mannose, and galactose.
Facilitated diffusion-glucose transporters (GLUTs) are encoded by the solute-linked carrier (SLC) family 2, subfamily A gene family, or SLC2A. The 14 GLUT protein members are distributed into three classes:
26.8K
Carbohydrate Metabolism01:36

Carbohydrate Metabolism

Carbohydrates are polymers composed of molecules containing atoms of carbon, hydrogen and oxygen. One gram of carbohydrate can provide four kilo-calories of energy, which makes it the most efficient instant energy source.
Starch accounts for approximately 60% of the carbohydrates consumed by humans. Since amylase enzymes cannot function in the stomach's acidic environment, starch can only be digested in the mouth and small intestine. Simple sugars are found naturally in milk and fruits in...
13.1K
Overview of Carbohydrate Metabolism01:19

Overview of Carbohydrate Metabolism

Carbohydrate metabolism is a fundamental biochemical process that ensures a constant supply of energy to living cells. The most important carbohydrate is glucose, which can be broken down via glycolysis to enter into the Krebs cycle and eventually lead to the production of ATP through oxidative phosphorylation.
Glucose transport into cells is facilitated by a family of transport proteins called GLUT (Glucose Transporters). GLUT4 is the primary glucose transporter for insulin-stimulated glucose...
2.7K
Inborn Errors of Metabolism01:20

Inborn Errors of Metabolism

Phenylketonuria (PKU) is a protein metabolism disorder characterized by high blood levels of the amino acid phenylalanine. This results from a mutation in the gene responsible for phenylalanine hydroxylase, an enzyme that converts phenylalanine into tyrosine. When this enzyme is deficient, phenylalanine builds up in the blood, leading to symptoms such as vomiting, rashes, seizures, growth deficiency, and severe mental retardation. An early diagnosis and a diet restricting phenylalanine intake...
591
Carbohydrate Absorption01:25

Carbohydrate Absorption

Carbohydrates are essential macronutrients that serve as the body's primary energy source. Their digestion begins in the mouth, where salivary amylase partially breaks down complex carbohydrates such as starch into smaller oligosaccharides. This mechanical and enzymatic activity prepares carbohydrates for further processing in the gastrointestinal tract.
After being swallowed, the partially digested carbohydrates mix with gastric secretions in the stomach. However, the acidic environment...
2.5K