Hydrogen breath test

The digestive system should be prepared for the test in such a way that the result is not disturbed by excessive (night-time) multiplication of bacteria in the oral cavity, unnatural temporary growth of bacteria in the small intestine caused by the consumption of excess fermenting foods and prolonged digestion, or partial or complete temporary destruction of the overgrowth by accidental antibiotic therapy.
The SIBO test is a measurement of the gas produced by bacteria in response to a specific amount of sugar digested by them, given at the start.
If the patient is not properly prepared, the reaction to sugar may be too small or too intense to correctly diagnose hyperplasia.

You should wait 4-6 weeks after:

• antibiotic therapy,
• colonoscopy,
• fluoroscopy,
• enteroclysis,
• barium rectal enema,
• infectious diarrhea,
• hydrocolonotherapy and enemas,
• use of strong laxatives.

1 week before the test:

• Antibacterial herbs, probiotics, and proton pump inhibitors should be discontinued.

3 days before the test:

• discontinue mild laxatives, including lactulose.

1-2 days before the test, you should follow an appropriate diet (see – Diet before the test ):

• 1 day if the patient has diarrhea or mixed symptoms with a predominance of diarrhea,
• 2 days if the patient has constipation or mixed symptoms with predominance of constipation.

1 day before the test:

• stop taking betaine HCl, apple cider vinegar, bitter stomach drops and all other stomach "acidifiers" and "deacidifiers", digestive enzymes and other supplements, especially those containing fiber (do not stop taking medications on your own!),
• do not engage in physical activity.

On the day of the test:

• you should get up at least an hour before the test,
• be fasting for 12 hours, you can drink water,
• You should brush your teeth just before the examination,
• you are not allowed to: chew gum, eat candy, smoke cigarettes, use denture glue,
• the test lasts up to 3 hours.

During the test:

• you should stay calm, do not exercise, do not walk,
• You can drink water depending on whether the test taker agrees.

Diet before the test
You should avoid:

• milk and fruit juices,
• spices except salt and pepper,
• onion, garlic and leek,
• green tea,
• herbal infusions,
• highly mineralized water,
• carbonated water,
• sweetened drinks,
• fruits and vegetables (due to their fiber content), it is particularly important to avoid highly fermenting vegetables and fruits.

You can consume:

• meat, fish, eggs,
• if the patient tolerates dairy products: mature yellow cheeses (Parmesan, Pecorino), lactose-free dairy products,
• meat stock (only meat, no vegetables),
• jasmine or basmati rice (approx. 70g per serving), rice wafers – if the patient is on a grain-free diet, rice should not be consumed!
• olive oil, coconut oil, clarified butter (cooking spoon),
• salt, pepper,
• spring water without additives,
• weak coffee and weak black tea (bitter – no sweeteners and milk, 1 cup).

More meals in smaller portions are recommended.

The hydrogen breath test is used to diagnose:

• lactose intolerance,
• small intestinal bacterial overgrowth (SIBO),
• assessment of intestinal transit time (time of passage of food through the digestive system).

Test procedure:
After measuring the initial value of hydrogen in the exhaled air on an empty stomach (0 min), the concentration of hydrogen in the exhaled air is measured at 30-minute intervals for a period of at least 2 hours , and an additional 15 minutes after administration of the agent.

Duration of the examination: up to 3 hours

Post-treatment recommendations: none

The tests are intended for people struggling with a variety of abdominal ailments, including persistent bloating, bloating, gas, diarrhea or constipation, bad breath, or abdominal pain.

Contraindications:

• diagnosed or suspected congenital fructose intolerance (contraindication to the hydrogen breath test with fructose and Surbitol),
• diagnosed or suspected (postprandial) hypoglycemia and diabetes.

Relative contraindications:

• taking antibiotics (in the 4 weeks before the test),
• colonoscopy (within 4 weeks before the examination),
• irrigoscopy (within 4 weeks before the examination),
• fluoroscopy of the small intestine (within 4 weeks before the examination),
• ileostomy (except for the diagnosis of small intestinal bacterial overgrowth – SIBO),
• The result may be false due to severe tooth decay and severe inflammation in the oral cavity.

Print preparation