What To Expect From Your Hydrogen Breath Test

If you feel bloated after most meals, you’re not alone. An estimated 1 in 7 Americans struggles with weekly bloating, and that doesn’t even include those with abdominal pain or other unwanted digestive symptoms.

Conditions like SIBO, lactose intolerance, and fructose intolerance can trigger GI symptoms such as gas, bloating, abdominal pain, and changes in your bowel habits. But before you get the relief you need, you have to determine exactly what’s triggering your symptoms.

Enter the hydrogen breath test. Our team at Las Vegas Gastroenterology offers this test through our GI motility clinic. It helps us learn more about what’s going on with your digestive system.

Read on as Noel R. Fajardo, MD, and Filippo Cremonini, MD, PhD, MSc, explain what a hydrogen breath test is and what you can expect from one.

What is a hydrogen breath test?

A hydrogen breath test measures the amount of hydrogen and sometimes methane gas in your breath after you consume a specific sugar solution.

Normally, very little hydrogen is present in your breath. But when your body doesn’t properly digest certain carbohydrates, bacteria in your digestive tract ferment them and produce hydrogen gas. That gas enters your bloodstream and is eventually exhaled through your lungs.

We then measure changes in your breath to gather clues about what's happening in your digestive system.

What conditions can a hydrogen breath test help diagnose?

Hydrogen breath testing is commonly used to evaluate:

Small intestinal bacterial overgrowth (SIBO)
Lactose intolerance
Fructose intolerance
Other carbohydrate malabsorption disorders

The specific solution you drink depends on the condition we’re investigating.

How should I prepare for the test?

Preparation is important because certain foods, medications, and activities can affect your results.

We give you detailed instructions, but we may ask you to:

Follow a special diet the day before testing
Fast for a certain period before your appointment
Avoid smoking before the test
Avoid certain medications

Some studies also show that walking for an hour before your test (without hyperventilating) can improve the accuracy of your baseline score.

In any case, follow your specific instructions carefully to get the most accurate results.

What to expect during your hydrogen breath test

Hydrogen breath testing is noninvasive. There are no needles, anesthesia, or recovery time required.

The test itself is straightforward.

Provide a baseline and drink a sugar-based solution

First, you provide a baseline breath sample by breathing into a collection device. You then drink a specially prepared solution that contains lactulose, lactose, or fructose.

Provide several breath samples over the next few hours

You continue to provide additional breath samples at regular intervals. These samples allow us to track how hydrogen and methane levels change as your body processes the solution.

Report any symptoms

Some people don’t notice any symptoms. Others may experience symptoms similar to those they normally have, such as:

Bloating
Gas
Abdominal discomfort
Changes in bowel habits

These symptoms can provide useful information about how your body responds to the test solution.

Most tests take 2-3 hours, depending on the type of testing.

Review your results

We review your results and discuss what they mean for your symptoms and treatment plan.

If the test identifies conditions such as SIBO or carbohydrate intolerance, we can recommend appropriate dietary changes, medications, or other treatments.

Get answers about your digestive symptoms

Persistent bloating, gas, and abdominal discomfort aren't symptoms you should learn to live with. Our team can help you get the answers you need through hydrogen breath tests and other testing.

For questions about your upcoming test or to request an appointment, click here or call either of our two locations in Las Vegas, Nevada.