Hydrogen (H2)

Optimal Result: 0 - 20 ppm.

GENERAL CONSIDERATIONS FOR BREATH TESTING

Small intestinal bacterial overgrowth (SIBO) is a heterogeneous syndrome characterized by an increase in the number and/or the presence of atypical microbiota in the small intestine. Genova's SIBO breath test relies on measurement of gases produced by microbiota in the intestine - hydrogen (H2) and methane (CH4) - following ingestion of lactulose in a fasting state.

A normal transit time of lactulose (10 g) in healthy fasting patients from the mouth to the junction between the small and large intestine (oro-cecal transit time, or OCTT) is approximately 90 minutes. In general, transit times have been found to vary in humans. Given such findings, transit time should be taken into consideration when interpreting breath testing.

To preclude elevated breath levels of hydrogen and methane prior to the ingestion of lactulose (at baseline), impeccable patient preparation and sample collection are imperative. Falsely elevated findings may result from incomplete avoidance of high-fiber foods, residual fiber in the intestine due to delayed transit time, residual oropharyngeal (mouth and throat) bacteria, exposure to tobacco smoke, or napping during collection.

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EVALUATION FOR HYDROGEN (H2)

In healthy humans, hydrogen gas is exclusively produced by intestinal bacteria - primarily a result of carbohydrate fermentation by anaerobic bacteria in the colon. In SIBO, fermentation of the malabsorbed lactulose substrate by bacteria residing in the small intestine results in elevated concentration of exhaled hydrogen (H2).

- The hydrogen result is the difference between the baseline hydrogen (S1) and the highest hydrogen finding among S2, S3, S4 or S5. The result does not take into account actual collection times. It is expected that the patient followed recommended collection times.

- A rise of H2 of ≥20 ppm over baseline in those samples collected after 90 minutes maybe positive for SIBO in patients with slower transit time or constipation.

- ELEVATED BASELINE - The clinical significance of elevated baseline H2 levels in patients reporting adherence to fasting and dietary guidelines is not known. In a symptomatic patient, some clinical groups with expertise in SIBO management may consider an elevated hydrogen baseline a positive test.

- Approximately 8 to 27% of individuals do not produce H2 due to the presence of methanogenic microbiota which consume hydrogen molecules to produce methane gas. As a result, low H2 findings through all time points in a symptomatic patient may reflect a false negative result. In this instance, clinical attention should be shifted to evaluation of CH4.

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References:

Rezaie A, Buresi M, Lembo A, et al. Hydrogen and Methane-Based Breath Testing in Gastrointestinal Disorders: The North American Consensus. The American journal of gastroenterology. May 2017;112(5):775-784. [L]

What does it mean if your Hydrogen (H2) result is too high?

A rise of H2 of ≥ 20 ppm over baseline in the first 90 minutes of testing is positive for SIBO.

When both H2 and CH4 are present, treatment may require more than one antimicrobial agent. Patients who received a combination of rifaximin and neomycin showed a higher rate of methane eradication on breath testing compared to patients who received either rifaximin or neomycin alone. There was also a better clinical response with the combination therapy.

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