Evidence map›Paper›PMID 33802839›Full record

ReviewNutrients2021

Hydrogen Breath Tests: Are They Really Useful in the Nutritional Management of Digestive Disease?

Paolo Usai-Satta, Francesco Oppia, Mariantonia Lai, Francesco Cabras

Open access · goldAbstract readReview
In one paragraph

Review in Nutrients, 2021. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 8 papers.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
8citing papers in PubMed
2.1field-weighted citation impact, top 13% of its field
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

8 citing papers in PubMed, 13 citations in OpenAlex.

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4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

4 authors at 2 institutions in 1 country.

Paolo Usai-SattaGastroenterology Unit, Brotzu Hospital, 09121 Cagliari, Italy.ORCID 0000-0003-3344-927X
Francesco OppiaGastroenterology Unit, Brotzu Hospital, 09121 Cagliari, Italy.
Mariantonia LaiGastroenterology Unit, University of Cagliari, 09042 Monserrato, Italy.
Francesco CabrasGastroenterology Unit, Brotzu Hospital, 09121 Cagliari, Italy.
Azienda Ospedaliera G. Brotzu · ITUniversity of Cagliari · IT

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundCarbohydrate malabsorption is a frequent digestive problem associated with abdominal pain, bloating and diarrhea. Hydrogen breath testing (BT) represents the most reliable and validated diagnostic technique. The aim of this manuscript was to clarify the usefulness of BTs in the nutritional management of these disorders.

methodsA literature search for BT related to carbohydrate malabsorption was carried out using the online databases of Pubmed, Medline and Cochrane.

resultsLactose BT showed good sensitivity and optimal specificity for lactose malabsorption. However, an accurate diagnosis of lactose intolerance should require blind lactose challenge although this method is difficult to utilize in clinical practice. Regarding dose-depending fructose and sorbitol malabsorption, BTs could not add diagnostic advantage compared with a direct dietary intervention. In addition, carbohydrates are fundamental components of fermentable oligo-, di- and monosaccharides and polyols (FODMAPs). Before starting a low FODMAP diet, lactose BT should be suggested in a population with low prevalence of hypolactasia.

conclusionsBTs represent a valid and noninvasive technique in many digestive conditions. Regarding the management of carbohydrate intolerance, lactose BT can be recommended with some limitations. No sufficient evidence is available about the usefulness of BTs for other sugars in clinical practice.

Indexed as

Carbohydrate MetabolismBreath TestsHumansHydrogenMalabsorption SyndromesHydrogenFODMAPfructose and sorbitol malabsorptionhydrogen breath testinglactose malabsorption and intolerancenutritional management

Identifiers

PMID33802839
PMCPMC8002624
OpenAlexW3136136182

What OpenQuestion holds

Textmetadata
LicenceCC BY
Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.