This will help determine if you are intolerant to, or cannot digest, certain sugars. Why do I need a Hydrogen Breath TestĪ hydrogen breath test provides information about the digestion of certain sugars or carbohydrates. The concentration of hydrogen in your breath is then measured using a hydrogen breath test machine. You will be given a test solution to drink after you have fasted (not eaten) overnight. What is a Hydrogen Breath TestĪ hydrogen breath test is a non-invasive and safe test used to investigate intestinal disorders. If after reading it you have any concerns or require further explanation, please discuss this with a member of the healthcare team. It is not intended to replace the discussion between you and the healthcare team, but may act as a starting point for discussion. Most of your questions should be answered by this leaflet. This leaflet has been produced to give you general information. Need some help choosing a language? Please refer to Browsealoud Supported Voices and Languages. All Rights Reserved.You can translate this page by using the headphones button (bottom left) and then select the globe to change the language of the page. Also, if you have lung disease your results may be difficult to interpret.Ĭopyright © 2012 GI Associates. If you have recently been treated with an antibiotic or had recent episodes of diarrhea, please let the office know. Sleeping causes the hydrogen levels to rise because this slows the movement through the GI tract. Please do not take any of your morning medications prior to the test, unless otherwise instructed. Can I take my medications before the test? Please avoid vigorous physical activity 2 hours before the test.īacteria present in your mouth can change the results so just before the test, you will be given mouthwash.Eating or drinking anything including candy.Tobacco smoke has high levels of hydrogen so will make the test inaccurate. DO NOT eat potatoes, vegetables, bread, pasta, pastry, fruit.The evening before the test, your diet should include any (or all) of the following: Also, do not take Metamucil, Citrucel, Benefiber or any other fiber supplements. The day before the test, eat your normal diet for breakfast and lunch, except avoid bran and high fiber foods. Your breath samples will be taken about every 30 minutes, and all together the test may last from 1-4 hours. You will drink a mixture of sugary water and then are asked to breathe into a plastic bag right away, and then every 30 minutes. But, if lactose reaches the colon, it is broken down by bacteria releasing hydrogen the level of hydrogen you breathe out is measured. Typically lactose is fully absorbed prior to reaching the colon so, if you have normal levels of working lactase, there is no increase in the level of hydrogen. To test for this condition a specific amount of lactose is eaten and the amount of hydrogen in your breath is measured over time. This can lead to diarrhea, abdominal pain, bloating, vomiting and flatulence. This lactose then travels to the colon, and the bacteria present there break it down. If lactose is not broken down, it cannot be absorbed in the small intestine. The decreased amount of lactase can be due to injury of the lining of the GI tract, or because of how you were born.

With lactose intolerance, there are low levels of, or not properly functioning lactase. Lactase is the chemical present in the body that is responsible for breaking down lactose. Lactose is a sugar that is most often found in dairy products. The hydrogen level can be measured in your breath. If bacteria are present in the small intestine, these substances will be broken down earlier and hydrogen will be released. When bacteria breakdown, this sugar hydrogen is released. To test for this condition, a sugar, called lactulose is given to you. The constant motion, pushing food along and the acid that enters the small intestine from the stomach, cause the bacteria levels to be lower in this area. Typically, quite a few bacteria live in your colon, but not too many are present in the small intestine. This leads to increased breakdown of food, inflammation, and trouble absorbing nutrients, which can cause symptoms such as bloating, abdominal discomfort, diarrhea, and weight loss. In small intestinal bacterial overgrowth, bacteria are present in larger than normal levels in the small intestine. The testing is safe, and easy to perform. This test is used to evaluate for small intestinal bacterial overgrowth, or intolerances to different types of sugars, such as lactose.

Hydrogen breath test