Breath methane analysis in the diagnosis of rice carbohydrate malabsorption

ABSTRACT

Rice carbohydrate malabsorption is common in Myanmar village children and adults. The diagnosis is dependent on the use of a rice breath hydrogen test which has potential limitations. As methane production has been identified in almost 20 percent of Myanmar children under age 5, it was possible that an increased carbohydrate load in the colon consequent upon rice malabsorption may provide increased substrate for methanogenic bacteria in the left colon. A rise in methane production might be reflected in fasting breath methane concentration and therefore simplify the diagnosis of rece malabsorption. 79 children had a rice breath hydrogen test with measurement of hydrogen over a four hour period allied with a breath methane measurement and anthropometric measurement. There was no correlation between rice malabsorption and methane production and the measurement of breath methane does not, therefore, correlate with the rice absorption status.