title: Breath methane positivity is more common and higher in patients with objectively proven delayed transit constipation.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Methane (CH4)-producing intestinal bacteria might be related to constipation. This study was carried out to evaluate the association between breath CH4, colonic transit, and anorectal pressure in constipated patients.
  
  
  METHODS
  A database of consecutive 62 constipated patients fulfilling the Rome III with the lactulose CH4 breath test (LMBT), a colon marker study, and anorectal manometry was studied. The profile of LMBT in patients was compared with 49 healthy controls. The positivity to LMBT (LMBT+) was defined as CH4 of at least 10 ppm in baseline or above baseline within 90 min. There were two types of constipation: normal and delayed transit.
  
  
  RESULTS
  There were significant differences in the breath CH4 between patients with delayed transit and (a) normal transit from 0 to 135 min or (b) healthy controls from 0 to 180 min. The LMBT+ was higher in delayed transit patients than in healthy controls (58.8 vs.12.2%) or in normal transit patients (vs. 13.3%), respectively (P<0.01). The delayed transit was the only independent factor for LMBT+ [odds ratio (95% confidence interval), 27.8 (3.32-250.00), P<0.01]. The left and total colonic transit time were significantly increased in LMBT-positive than in LMBT-negative patients. Significant correlations were found between total CH4 and the time of left or total colonic transit. However, no difference was found in the parameters of manometry by LMBT status.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  A positive breath CH4 was associated with delayed colonic transit and left colon, and it could be a new therapeutic target for the management of constipated patients with delayed colonic transit.
authors: Department of Internal Medicine, St Vincent's Hospital, College of Medicine bDepartment of Internal Medicine, Seoul St Mary's Hospital, College of Medicine, The Catholic University of Korea, Seoul, Korea.
authors: Kang-Moon
authors: KM
authors: Lee
authors: Chang-Nyol
authors: CN
authors: Paik
authors: Woo Chul
authors: WC
authors: Chung
authors: Jin-Mo
authors: JM
authors: Yang
authors: Myung-Gyu
authors: MG
authors: Choi
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001003:Anal Canal / Q000503:physiopathology; D001944:Breath Tests / Q000379:methods; D003248:Constipation / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000503:physiopathology; D005260:Female; D005772:Gastrointestinal Transit / Q000502:physiology*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008365:Manometry / Q000379:methods; D008697:Methane / Q000378:metabolism*; D008875:Middle Aged; D011312:Pressure; D012007:Rectum / Q000503:physiopathology; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D008697:Methane