title: Breath Methane Levels Are Increased Among Patients with Diverticulosis.
abstract: Diverticulosis and its complications are important healthcare problems in the USA and throughout the Western world. While mechanisms as to how diverticulosis occurs have partially been explored, few studies examined the relationship between colonic gases such as methane and diverticulosis in humans.
  
  
  
  This study aimed to demonstrate a significant relationship between methanogenic Archaea and development of diverticulosis.
  
  
  
  Subjects who consecutively underwent hydrogen breath test at Rush University Medical Center between 2003 and 2010 were identified retrospectively through a database. Medical records were reviewed for presence of a colonoscopy report. Two hundred and sixty-four subjects were identified who had both a breath methane level measurement and a colonoscopy result. Additional demographic and clinical data were obtained with chart review.
  
  
  
  Mean breath methane levels were higher in subjects with diverticulosis compared to those without diverticulosis (7.89 vs. 4.94 ppm, p = 0.04). Methane producers (defined as those with baseline fasting breath methane level >5 ppm) were more frequent among subjects with diverticulosis compared to those without diverticulosis (50.9 vs. 34 %, p = 0.0025). When adjusted for confounders, breath methane levels and age were the two independent predictors of diverticulosis on colonoscopy with logistic regression modeling.
  
  
  
  Methanogenesis is associated with the presence of diverticulosis. Further studies are needed to confirm our findings and prospectively evaluate a possible etiological role of methanogenesis and methanogenic archaea in diverticulosis.
authors.affiliation: Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Department of Medicine, University of Illinois at Chicago, 840 S Wood Street, Suite 718E, Chicago, IL, 60612, USA.
authors.forename: Cemal
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Yazici
authors.affiliation: Division of Digestive Diseases and Nutrition, Rush Presbyterian St. Luke's Medical Center, Rush University Medical Center, 1725 W Harrison, Suite 206, Chicago, IL, 60612, USA.
authors.forename: Deniz Cagil
authors.initials: DC
authors.lastname: Arslan
authors.affiliation: Division of Digestive Diseases and Nutrition, Rush Presbyterian St. Luke's Medical Center, Rush University Medical Center, 1725 W Harrison, Suite 206, Chicago, IL, 60612, USA.
authors.forename: Rana
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Abraham
authors.affiliation: Division of Gastroenterology, Department of Medicine, School of Medicine, Washington University in St. Louis, 660 S Euclid Ave, St. Louis, MO, 63110, USA.
authors.forename: Kelly
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Cushing
authors.affiliation: Division of Digestive Diseases and Nutrition, Rush Presbyterian St. Luke's Medical Center, Rush University Medical Center, 1725 W Harrison, Suite 206, Chicago, IL, 60612, USA.
authors.forename: Ali
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Keshavarzian
authors.affiliation: Division of Digestive Diseases and Nutrition, Rush Presbyterian St. Luke's Medical Center, Rush University Medical Center, 1725 W Harrison, Suite 206, Chicago, IL, 60612, USA. Ece_Mutlu@rush.edu.
authors.forename: Ece A
authors.initials: EA
authors.lastname: Mutlu
mesh_terms: D000367:Age Factors; D000959:Antihypertensive Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001944:Breath Tests; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D002446:Celiac Disease / Q000453:epidemiology; D003113:Colonoscopy; D003248:Constipation / Q000453:epidemiology; D004240:Diverticulum / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000378:metabolism*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006973:Hypertension / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000453:epidemiology; D016015:Logistic Models; D008297:Male; D008697:Methane / Q000378:metabolism*; D008875:Middle Aged; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012216:Rheumatic Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology
chemical_list: D000959:Antihypertensive Agents; D008697:Methane
keywords: Breath methane level; Diverticulosis; Methanogenesis; Methanogenic archaea