Hydrogen Breath Test

The hydrogen breath test helps to determine if certain conditions or diseases are affecting your intestinal tract, such as Small Intestinal Bacterial Overgrowth (SIBO). Your body produces hydrogen and/or methane gas during digestion, which can cause bloating, abdominal discomfort and sometimes diarrhea or constipation. The gases absorbed by the intestines enter the bloodstream where they are transported to the lungs. Exhaling releases these gases. By analyzing the gases contained in your breath when you exhale, we can check for specific conditions and begin appropriate treatment.

What is Small Intestinal Bacterial Overgrowth (SIBO)?

Small Intestinal Bacterial Overgrowth (SIBO) is overabundant bacteria that exists in the small intestine. The hydrogen breath test looks for bacterial overgrowth, or intolerances to lactose or fructose.

• Lactulose is poorly absorbed in the gastrointestinal tract, making it ideal for testing bacterial overgrowth throughout the small intestine.
• Lactose and fructose intolerance occur when an individual has deficiency in enzymes needed for absorption. Normally, lactose and fructose are broken down in the small intestine, absorbed, allowing only small amounts of lactose or fructose to reach the colon. If they reach the colon in raw form, lactose and fructose are digested by bacteria producing a large amount of gas, which can be measured in the breath sample.

What can I expect from a hydrogen breath test?

This test requires that you drink a mixture of either lactulose, lactose or fructose in water. For this test, you will drink the specified mixture given to you and then give a breath sample every 15 – 20 minutes over a three-hour period.

Preparing for your test:

Medications:

• Do not take antibiotics, probiotics, or colonoscopy prep for 4 weeks before your test.
• Do not take laxatives, motility agents, fiber supplements, or diarrhea medications for 4 days before your test.

The day before your test:

• It is important to make sure there is no fiber or fermentable foods in your intestines at the time of your test. Failure to follow the diet instructions may lead to inaccurate results.
• Starting 24 hours before your test, eat and drink only:
  • Plain meat, poultry, fish or seafood
  • Plain steamed white rice
  • Eggs
  • Clear meat broths (made from only the meat; no bone broth, no vegetables)
  • Fats / oils (coconut, olive or vegetable oils, butter, or lard)
  • Salt and pepper (avoid other herbs and spices)
  • Plain black coffee or weak black tea (no sweetener, no cream; no green or herbal teas)
  • Plain water (no mineral water or water with additives)

The day of your test:

• Do not eat or drink for 12 hours before your test, or during the test.
• You may take your regular medications with a sip of water.
• Do not smoke for 12 hours before your test, or during the test.
• Do not sleep or exercise for at least one hour before your test, or during the test.

We offer this test at our North Haven Endoscopy Suite.