Table 2 Characteristics of patients with suspected carbohydrate malabsorption and overview of test results.

From: Methane breath tests and blood sugar tests in children with suspected carbohydrate malabsorption

Patients

All

2–5 years

6–8 years

9–11 years

12–14 years

15–18 years

Tests, n (%)

Fructose

187 (100)

27 (14)

35 (19)

47 (25)

35 (19)

43 (23)

Lactose

82 (100)

20 (24)

13 (16)

17 (21)

14 (17)

18 (22)

Sex, female/male ratio

Fructose

1.9

2.0

1.5

1.8

0.8

3.3

Lactose

1.8

1.5

0.6

2.4

1.8

2.6

Age, years (range/mean)

Fructose

2.3–18 (11.0)

4.5

7.7

10.4

13.3

16.4

Lactose

2.9–18 (10.4)

4.5

7.1

10.7

13.6

16.5

HBT positive, n (%)

Fructose

113 (60)

23 (12)

24 (13)

32 (17)

20 (11)

14 (7)

Lactose

16 (20)

3 (4)

3 (4)

2 (2)

3 (4)

5 (6)

MBT positive, n (%)

Fructose

66 (35)

16 (9)

19 (10)

20 (11)

7 (4)

4 (2)

Lactose

14 (17)

2 (2)

3 (4)

2 (2)

4 (5)

3 (4)

BST positive, n (%)

Fructose

109 (58)

13 (7)

18 (10)

27 (14)

17 (9)

34 (18)

Lactose

12 (15)

0 (0)

1 (1)

3 (4)

3 (4)

5 (6)

Symptoms positive, n (%)

Fructose

51 (27)

11 (6)

5 (3)

13 (7)

6 (3)

16 (9)

Lactose

23 (28)

2 (2)

2 (2)

7 (9)

4 (5)

8 (10)

NMP positive, n (%)

Fructose

47 (25)

7 (4)

5 (3)

12 (6)

13 (7)

10 (5)

Lactose

3 (4)

1 (1)

0 (0)

0 (0)

0 (0)

2 (2)

  1. HBT hydrogen breath test (an increase of H2 ≥ 20 ppm over baseline was considered positive). MBT methane breath test (a CH4 concentration ≥ 10 ppm at any time point was considered positive). BST Blood sugar test (an increase of blood glucose < 1.1 mmol/L at any time point was considered positive). Symptoms patients who showed or reported any symptoms during the test procedure. NMP non-methane producer (patients with a positive HBT but with a negative MBT).