Assessment of intestinal permeability using sugar probes: influence of urinary volume.

Background: As the accuracy of the "Sugar Test" is currently debated, this study was conducted to focus on how urine volumes may impact the test results.

Methods: Fifty-five subjects, 23 healthy and 32 with Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS), were enrolled. Lactulose and D-mannitol dissolved in water were administered to all the participating subjects; the urine excreted was collected and the total urine volume was measured.

Positive glucose breath testing is more prevalent in patients with IBS-like symptoms compared with controls of similar age and gender distribution.

Background: Small intestinal bacterial overgrowth (SIBO) may mimic a functional disorder such as irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) or functional bloating (FB). In this study, we aimed to assess the utility of glucose breath test (GBT) in patients with the above conditions.

Methods: This study included 200 consecutive patients (130 with IBS and 70 with FB on the basis of Rome III criteria) and 70 controls with similar age and sex distribution.