Related Experiment Video
Updated: Apr 2, 2026

Sucrose Preference and Novelty-Induced Hypophagia Tests in Rats using an Automated Food Intake Monitoring System
Published on: May 8, 2020
Clinical Symptoms Do Not Distinguish Sucrose Malabsorption From SIBO
Chethan Ramprasad1, Vikram Rangan1, Colin Wu1
1Department of Gastroenterology, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Boston, Massachusetts, USA.
Background:
Sucrose malabsorption and small intestinal bacterial overgrowth (SIBO) present with symptoms that overlap with those of disorders of gut-brain interaction (DGBI). Recent studies suggest that sucrose malabsorption is more prevalent than previously thought. This study aims to determine the prevalence of sucrose malabsorption based on 13C-sucrose breath test (SBT) in patients undergoing SIBO breath testing and assess whether symptoms distinguish sucrose malabsorption from SIBO.
Methods:
Three hundred patients referred for SIBO breath testing between August 2020 and March 2022 were recruited and asked to complete the Rome IV Questionnaire for bowel disorders, Irritable Bowel Syndrome Severity Score (IBS-SSS), and the Patient Assessment of Gastrointestinal Disorders Symptom Severity Index (PAGI-SYM). After in person SIBO breath testing, they were provided an at-home 13C-SBT.
Results:
One-hundred-and-forty patients returned the SBT. Of the SIBO negative patients, 22% (25/113) were SBT positive. No statistically significant differences were found in predominant symptoms or Rome IV diagnoses (IBS, functional constipation, or functional diarrhea), bloating frequency, IBS-SSS, or PAGI-SYM Scores between SBT positive and SBT negative patients. SBT positive only patients (n = 24) reported less abdominal pain (p = 0.04) than abnormal SIBO test only patients (n = 23).
Conclusion:
Sucrose malabsorption was present in 22% of SIBO negative patients, indicating that it is a possible contributor to DGBI symptoms. Symptom profile alone did not predict sucrose malabsorption, nor distinguish between sucrose malabsorption and SIBO. This emphasizes the importance of considering carbohydrate malabsorption syndromes, such as sucrose malabsorption, when evaluating patients with symptoms consistent with functional gastrointestinal disorders (FGID).
Related Concept Videos
Glucose Transporters
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:
Irritable Bowel Syndrome II: Clinical Features and Diagnostic Evaluation
Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS) is classified into subtypes based on the predominant bowel habits as determined by the Bristol Stool Form Scale (BSFS). The subtypes are:
Glucose Absorption Into the Small Intestine
Carbohydrate Absorption
After being swallowed, the partially digested carbohydrates mix with gastric secretions in the stomach. However, the acidic environment...
Irritable Bowel Syndrome I: Introduction
IBS is a chronic condition that can persist over a long period or recur frequently.
The pathogenesis of IBS involves a complex interplay of the following factors:
Altered...
Assessment of the Rectum and Anus
Rectal Inspection
Begin by inspecting the perianal and anal areas for color, texture, rashes,...

