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Related Experiment Videos

Breath hydrogen as a diagnostic method for hypolactasia.

G Metz, D J Jenkins, T J Peters

    Lancet (London, England)
    |May 24, 1975
    PubMed
    Summary

    Breath hydrogen testing accurately diagnoses hypolactasia (lactose intolerance). This non-invasive method using end-expiratory breath hydrogen (H2) sampling is a valuable tool for gastroenterology and surveys.

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    Area of Science:

    • Gastroenterology
    • Diagnostic Medicine
    • Biochemistry

    Background:

    • Hypolactasia, or lactose intolerance, affects a significant portion of the population.
    • Accurate diagnosis of hypolactasia is crucial for managing gastrointestinal symptoms.
    • Established diagnostic methods can be invasive or less reliable.

    Purpose of the Study:

    • To evaluate the efficacy of breath hydrogen (H2) testing as a non-invasive diagnostic tool for hypolactasia.
    • To compare breath H2 levels with established hypolactasia tests and patient-reported symptoms.

    Main Methods:

    • Twenty-five patients with abdominal symptoms ingested 50g of lactose.
    • End-expiratory breath H2 levels were measured and compared to blood glucose rise and jejunal lactase activity.
    • Patient symptoms related to lactose ingestion were also recorded.

    Main Results:

    • Patients with confirmed hypolactasia showed significantly elevated breath H2 levels (>20 p.p.m.) compared to those with normal lactose tolerance (<4 p.p.m.).
    • Breath H2 results correlated well with blood glucose rise and jejunal lactase activity.
    • Patient-reported symptoms were found to be unreliable indicators of hypolactasia.

    Conclusions:

    • End-expiratory breath H2 testing is a simple, non-invasive, and accurate method for diagnosing hypolactasia.
    • This method is well-accepted by patients, making it suitable for clinical and epidemiological use.
    • Breath H2 testing offers a valuable alternative to existing diagnostic procedures for lactose intolerance.

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