Your doctor may recommend a hydrogen breath test if they suspect you have sugar intolerance or SIBO.
Sugar intolerance occurs when your body struggles to digest certain sugars. For instance, lactose intolerance happens when someone lacks the enzyme lactase, which is needed to break down lactose (the sugar found in dairy products). Without this enzyme, lactose travels to the large intestine, where bacteria break it down, producing hydrogen. This hydrogen is detected during the breath test. Other sugars, like fructose, can also cause intolerance.
SIBO is a condition where excessive bacteria grow in the small intestine, leading to symptoms like bloating, diarrhea, and nutrient malabsorption. When you have SIBO, the bacteria in your small intestine will ferment the sugar solution you drink during the test, releasing hydrogen that the test can detect.
Hydrogen breath tests are used to diagnose sugar intolerance or small intestinal bacterial overgrowth (SIBO).
The test works by measuring how the hydrogen levels in your breath change after drinking a sugar solution. Normally, there’s very little hydrogen in the breath, but elevated levels suggest an issue, such as sugar intolerance or excessive bacterial growth in the small intestine.
To perform the test, your doctor will first have you blow into a bag to collect an initial breath sample. Afterward, you’ll drink a sugar solution, and every 15 to 20 minutes, you’ll blow into a bag to capture more breath samples as your body processes the solution. A syringe is used to remove the air from each bag for testing.
Though the procedure is simple, it can last 2 to 3 hours, so you might want to bring something to pass the time between samples.
Our Hydrogen Breath Test FAQs section answers common questions about the procedure, including how it works, why it’s done, and what to expect during the test. Whether you’re curious about preparing for the test or understanding your results, this guide provides clear, concise information to help you feel confident and informed.
A hydrogen breath test is a diagnostic tool used to detect sugar intolerances (such as lactose or fructose intolerance) or small intestinal bacterial overgrowth (SIBO). It measures the amount of hydrogen in your breath after consuming a sugar solution.
Normally, there is very little hydrogen in your breath. When your body can't properly digest certain sugars or if there’s bacterial overgrowth in your small intestine, bacteria break down the sugar and produce hydrogen, which is detected in your breath.
Your doctor may order this test if they suspect that you have:
Sugar intolerance occurs when your body has trouble digesting specific types of sugar, such as lactose or fructose. This can lead to symptoms like bloating, diarrhea, and discomfort after consuming these sugars.
SIBO (Small Intestinal Bacterial Overgrowth) occurs when there is an abnormal amount of bacteria in your small intestine. This can lead to symptoms such as bloating, diarrhea, and nutrient malabsorption.
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