Breath Methane Excretion Is not An Accurate Marker of Colonic Methane Production in Irritable Bowel Syndrome

M, Di Stefano; Mengoli, Caterina; Bergonzi, M.; Klersy, Catherine; Pagani, Elisabetta; Miceli, Emanuela

doi:10.1038/ajg.2015.47

Cited by 24 publications

(24 citation statements)

References 32 publications

Supporting

Mentioning

Contrasting

Order By: Relevance

“…27 Colonic gas production was similar between IBS patients, irrespective of subtype, and controls. 27 Taken together, existing data suggest quantitative but not qualitative differences in methane production between populations.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 91%

“…5 According to the published literature, approximately 30%-60% of most populations would be expected to have positive methane breath tests, and up to 100% of humans are likely colonised by methanogenic bacteria. [22][23][24]26,27 Based on previous validation studies, we collected hourly breath samples for five hours after ingestion of fructose or lactose, and have repeatedly shown that average peak methane as well as hydrogen concentrations occur after approximately two hours with fructose and three hours with lactose. 17,28 Thus, the sampling period of only 90 to 120 minutes in studies by Mathur et al 5 is likely to yield results preferentially reflecting the small intestinal microbiome, or patients with rapid intestinal transit.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

See 1 more Smart Citation

Breath methane concentrations and markers of obesity in patients with functional gastrointestinal disorders

Wilder‐Smith¹,

Olesen

Materna³

et al. 2018

UEG Journal

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Background: Obesity is associated with changes in the intestinal microbiome and methane-producing archaea may be involved in energy homeostasis. Objective: The objective of this article is to investigate the associations between intestinal methane production, waist circumference and body mass index (BMI) as biomarkers for obesity. Methods: Breath methane and hydrogen concentrations were measured over five hours following fructose or lactose ingestion in 1647 patients with functional gastrointestinal disorders. The relationships between gas concentrations and measures of obesity were investigated by stratifying gas concentration-time profiles by BMI and waist circumference, and, conversely, BMI and waist circumference by peak breath hydrogen and methane concentrations. Results: Following fructose ingestion, patients with lower BMI and lesser waist circumference had greater breath methane concentrations (all p < 0.003). Conversely, patients with increased methane concentrations had lower BMI (p < 0.001) and waist circumference (p ¼ 0.02). After lactose ingestion, BMI and waist circumference were not associated with significant differences in methane. However, greater methane concentrations were associated with a lower BMI (p < 0.002), but not with waist circumference. Conclusion: In this large group of patients mainly negative associations between breath methane concentrations and anthropometric biomarkers of obesity were evident. Studies investigating microbial methane production and energy homoeostasis in different populations are of substantial interest to distinguish epiphenomena from true causality. A follow-up study was registered at Clinical trials.gov NCT02085889.

show abstract

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 91%

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Breath methane concentrations and markers of obesity in patients with functional gastrointestinal disorders

Wilder‐Smith¹,

Olesen

Materna³

et al. 2018

UEG Journal

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

“…Indeed a recent study observed that both breath methane excretion and colonic methane production were not associated with clinical presentation in IBS patients, and were not correlated with symptom severity or with gastrointestinal transit. 61 …”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Relationship Between Microbiota of the Colonic Mucosa vs Feces and Symptoms, Colonic Transit, and Methane Production in Female Patients With Chronic Constipation

et al. 2016

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Background & Aims In fecal samples from patients with chronic constipation, the microbiota differs from that of healthy subjects. However, the profiles of fecal microbiota only partially replicate those of the mucosal microbiota. It is not clear whether these differences are caused by variations in diet or colonic transit, or are associated with methane production (measured by breath tests). We compared the colonic mucosal and fecal microbiota in patients with chronic constipation and in healthy subjects to investigate the relationships between microbiota and other parameters. Methods Sigmoid colonic mucosal and fecal microbiota samples were collected from 25 healthy women (controls) and 25 women with chronic constipation and evaluated by 16S ribosomal RNA gene sequencing (average of 49,186 reads/sample). We assessed associations between microbiota (overall composition and operational taxonomic units) and demographic variables, diet, constipation status, colonic transit, and methane production (measured in breath samples after oral lactulose intake). Results Fourteen patients with chronic constipation had slow colonic transit. The profile of the colonic mucosal microbiota differed between constipated patients and controls (P<.05). The overall composition of the colonic mucosal microbiota was associated with constipation, independent of colonic transit (P<.05) and discriminated between patients with constipation and controls with 94% accuracy. Genera from Bacteroidetes were more abundant in the colonic mucosal microbiota of patients with constipation. The profile of the fecal microbiota was associated with colonic transit before adjusting for constipation, age, body mass index, and diet; genera from Firmicutes (Faecalibacterium, Lactococcus, and Roseburia) correlated with faster colonic transit. Methane production was associated with the composition of the fecal microbiota, but not with constipation or colonic transit. Conclusions After adjusting for diet and colonic transit, the profile of the microbiota in the colonic mucosa could discriminate patients with constipation from healthy individuals. The profile of the fecal microbiota was associated with colonic transit and methane production (measured in breath), but not constipation.

show abstract

“…Methodological differences in study design precluded a formal meta‐analysis approach for studies that correlated diagnosis of constipation‐predominant IBS (IBS‐C) or chronic idiopathic constipation with methane production, nevertheless, the same report lists 14 studies supporting the association between methane production and constipation related disorders in adults. There are a few reports that primarily evaluated other hypotheses that did not show a link between methane on breath testing and constipation and one study that concludes that colonic methane production is not associated with clinical presentation in IBS patients …”

Section: Methane and Constipation‐associated Disordersmentioning

confidence: 99%

Review article: inhibition of methanogenic archaea by statins as a targeted management strategy for constipation and related disorders

Gottlieb

Wacher

Sliman

et al. 2015

Aliment Pharmacol Ther

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

SummaryBackgroundObservational studies show a strong association between delayed intestinal transit and the production of methane. Experimental data suggest a direct inhibitory activity of methane on the colonic and ileal smooth muscle and a possible role for methane as a gasotransmitter. Archaea are the only confirmed biological sources of methane in nature and Methanobrevibacter smithii is the predominant methanogen in the human intestine.AimTo review the biosynthesis and composition of archaeal cell membranes, archaeal methanogenesis and the mechanism of action of statins in this context.MethodsNarrative review of the literature.ResultsStatins can inhibit archaeal cell membrane biosynthesis without affecting bacterial numbers as demonstrated in livestock and humans. This opens the possibility of a therapeutic intervention that targets a specific aetiological factor of constipation while protecting the intestinal microbiome. While it is generally believed that statins inhibit methane production via their effect on cell membrane biosynthesis, mediated by inhibition of the HMG‐CoA reductase, there is accumulating evidence for an alternative or additional mechanism of action where statins inhibit methanogenesis directly. It appears that this other mechanism may predominate when the lactone form of statins, particularly lovastatin lactone, is administered.ConclusionsClinical development appears promising. A phase 2 clinical trial is currently in progress that evaluates the effect of lovastatin lactone on methanogenesis and symptoms in patients with irritable bowel syndrome with constipation. The review concludes with an outlook for the future and subsequent work that needs to be done.

show abstract

Breath Methane Excretion Is not An Accurate Marker of Colonic Methane Production in Irritable Bowel Syndrome

Cited by 24 publications

References 32 publications

Breath methane concentrations and markers of obesity in patients with functional gastrointestinal disorders

Breath methane concentrations and markers of obesity in patients with functional gastrointestinal disorders

Relationship Between Microbiota of the Colonic Mucosa vs Feces and Symptoms, Colonic Transit, and Methane Production in Female Patients With Chronic Constipation

Review article: inhibition of methanogenic archaea by statins as a targeted management strategy for constipation and related disorders

Contact Info

Product

Resources

About