Hydrogen and Methane Breath Test: Not a Matter of Concern

If you are a person who suffers from any type of gastrointestinal problem and doctors suggest you to go through Hydrogen and Methane breath test then undoubtedly at first instance lines of concern will emerge at your face. This is mainly because of the names and hydrogen and methane related with the test and since your childhood you have studied them as dangerous gases, you might think that how these gases are developed in your body. But after going through this stuff, I am sure you will not only help others in understanding the concept of this test but will also help them in coming out from the panic situations which they are undergoing after being told by their doctor for this test. What is Hydrogen/Methane Breath Test? In simple words hydrogen breath test refers to an examination that is conducted to measure the presence of hydrogen in your body which is resulting in emergence of various types of gastrointestinal problems in your body. Now the question arises that why the gastric problems arise in human body, despite of following strict diet chart. The main reason behind this problem is presence of anaerobic bacteria that is mainly found in the colon of human body and which is responsible for production of hydrogen. When this bacteria is exposed to undigested or unabsorbed food items especially the sugars and carbohydrates, it generates the hydrogen gas in human body. At first instance generation of gas is one of the common activities performed in body of every person, but when huge quantity of unabsorbed foods reaches the colon, it results in generation of huge hydrogen gas. This excess of hydrogen is mainly because of poor performance by small intestine which transits unabsorbed food to colon. One more reason which results in development of huge hydrogen is bacterial overgrowth which occurs due to movement of anaerobic bacteria into small intestine. Here the unabsorbed food comes in contact with the colon bacteria before reaching into the small intestine. The hydrogen developed during this process is absorbed by the blood moving across the wall of colon and small intestine and when this blood crosses through lungs the hydrogen is released and exhaled through breath during which it can be assessed. What types of tests are conducted during the Hydrogen and Methane Breath Test? The hydrogen and breath test is not restricted to only test, but during the test a patient has to undergo different test so as to diagnose the reason behind the emergence of this problem. Because as referred above the gastrointestinal problem mainly arises due to mal-absorption of different sugars and carbohydrates, but not the fats and proteins. Therefore, the person asked for hydrogen/methane breath test has to go through the following tests. 1. Lactose Breath test to understand the percentage of lactose intolerance rn2. Fructose Breath test to diagnoe malabsorption of fructosern3. Glucose Breath test to know the bacterial overgrowth rn4. Lactulose Breath test to assess the Hydrogen production and duration of its transit to small intestine rn5. Sucrose Breath testto know the malabsorption of sucrosern6. Sorbitol Breath test for malabsorption of sorbitol andrn7. Mannitol Breath test to determine malabsorption of mannitol. How the results of hydrogen and breath test determined? The results of this test are mainly calculated on the basis of sugar that is given to the patient and the pattern of producing hydrogen. After ingestion of different sugar items if it is seen that hydrogen is being produced in the body of a person then it means that there is some problem with his digestive system and that some portion the unabsorbed food has reached into the colon. When the there is dynamic intestinal transit, the un-digested lactulose reaches to the colon more speedily resulting in dynamic generation of hydrogen as soon as the sugar is ingested in body. If there is bacterial overgrowth of the small bowel, the ingestion of lactulose then it is assumed that the situation is taking place either due to presence of anaerobic bacteria in small intestine or because of the bacteria present in the colon.