Breath methane excretion status in children with lactose malabsorption

ABSTRACT

We carried out a study to determine breath methane excretion status in relation to lactose absorption in children. The lactose absorption status of 125 children aged 1 to 12 years was defined using the hydrogen breath test using lactose test meal (2 g/kg, maximum 50 g). Lactose malabsorption was detected in 16.7 percent of children aged 1-2.9 years, the prevalence increasing with age to 39.5 percent of 3-5.9 year-olds and 88.5 years, the prevalence increasing with age to 39.5 percent of 3-5.9 year-olds and 88.5 percent of 6-8.9 years and reaching 91.7 percent 9-11.9 year-old children. We measured breath methane excretion status in 69 children (56 lactose-malabsorbers and 13 lactose-absorbers) and found significantly higher breath methane excretion in lactose-malabsorbers.