Sugar malabsorption in functional abdominal bloating.pdf

ARTICLE IN PRESSClinical Nutrition (2006) 25, 824–8310261-5614/$ - s doi:10.1016/j.c Correspond E-mail addr/journals/clnuORIGINAL ARTICLE Sugar malabsorption in functional abdominal bloating: A pilot study on the long-term effect of dietary treatment Fernando Ferna?ndez-Ban?ares, Merce? Rosinach, Maria Esteve, Montserrat Forne?, Jorge C. Espino?s, Josep Maria ViverDepartment of Gastroenterology. Hospital Universitari Mutua Terrassa, Plaza Dr Robert 5, 08221 Terrassa, Barcelona, Spain Received 13 September 2005; accepted 17 November 2005KEYWORDS Sugar malabsorp- tion; Functional bloating; Dietee front matter 2005 lnu.2005.11.010 ing author. Tel.: +34 93 ess: digestiu@mutuaterSummary Background: Functional abdominal bloating is a functional bowel disorder domi- nated by a feeling of abdominal fullness without sufficient criteria for another functional gastrointestinal disorder. Gas-related complaints (i.e., passage of flatus), which are present in a subgroup of these patients, might be associated with carbohydrate malabsorption. Aim: To evaluate the presence of lactose and/or fructose plus sorbitol malabsorp- tion, and the long-term efficacy of malabsorbed sugar-free diets, in patients with Rome II criteria of functional abdominal bloating and gas-related symptoms. Methods: Thirty-six consecutive patients (age, 5173.1 years; sex, 12 M, 24 W) with Rome II criteria of functional abdominal bloating and gas-related symptoms were included in a pilot study. In all cases, the presence of malabsorption of both lactose (20 g) and fructose plus sorbitol (20+3.5 g) was assessed by means of hydrogen breath test. Patients with sugar malabsorption were put on a malabsorbed sugar-free diet. Follow-up visits were scheduled at both 1 and 12 months after starting the diet. Global rating scales of change as compared to the beginning of the study were used to assess symptom changes. Results: Twenty-six of 36 patients (72.2%) presented sugar malabsorption (six lactose, 12 fructose plus