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Related Experiment Video

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Using Multi-fluorinated Bile Acids and In Vivo Magnetic Resonance Imaging to Measure Bile Acid Transport

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Rice flour, breath hydrogen, and malabsorption.

P Kerlin, L Wong, B Harris

Gastroenterology

|September 1, 1984

Summary

The rice breath hydrogen test effectively detects carbohydrate malabsorption in patients, showing higher levels in those with pancreatic disease or small bowel issues. This test offers a sensitive alternative to fecal fat analysis for diagnosing malabsorption.

Area of Science:

Gastroenterology
Nutritional Science
Diagnostic Medicine

Background:

Dietary carbohydrate absorption varies in healthy humans; rice flour is proposed to be completely absorbed.
Accurate assessment of carbohydrate malabsorption is crucial for diagnosing gastrointestinal disorders.

Purpose of the Study:

To confirm efficient rice flour absorption in healthy individuals.
To evaluate the utility of a rice breath hydrogen (H2) test for diagnosing malabsorption.
To compare rice breath H2 test results with quantitative fecal fat excretion.

Main Methods:

A test meal of 100g rice pancakes was administered.
End-expiratory breath samples were collected over 8 hours for H2 analysis via gas chromatography.
Three-day stool fat collections were performed concurrently.

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Main Results:

Healthy controls showed minimal H2 production (6.9 ± 1.4 ppm).
Patients with pancreatic disease (43.2 ± 8.0 ppm) and small bowel diseases (73.2 ± 21.4 ppm) exhibited significantly higher H2 levels.
The rice breath H2 test demonstrated comparable sensitivity to fecal fat excretion, with maximal H2 in bacterial overgrowth cases.

Conclusions:

The rice breath hydrogen test is an effective diagnostic tool for carbohydrate malabsorption.
This non-invasive test shows promise in differentiating malabsorption causes, including bacterial overgrowth.
Results suggest endogenous microflora play a role in salvaging unabsorbed carbohydrates.