Prevalence of small intestinal bacterial overgrowth in irritable bowel syndrome (IBS): Correlating H(2) or CH(4) production with severity of IBS

BACKGROUND AND AIM: The prevalence and the role of small intestinal bacterial overgrowth (SIBO) in irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) remain unclear, as the literature provides heterogeneous information on the subject. The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence of SIBO in IBS and to assess the correlation between methane and hydrogen levels measured during breath tests and the severity of IBS. METHOD: Two‐hundred and forty‐seven patients with IBS were prospectively included. A glucose breath test (GBT) measured H(2) and CH(4) production to diagnose SIBO. A test was positive when H(2) values exceeded 12 ppm in the first 90 min and/or when a CH(4) value exceeded 10 ppm at any time. IBS severity (IBS‐SSS), quality of life (GIQLI), and anxiety and depression (HAD) were assessed to investigate the correlation with H(2) and CH(4) production. RESULTS: The prevalence of SIBO in IBS was 36.4% (9.7% with H(2), 26.7% with CH(4)). CH(4) levels were significantly higher in the predominantly constipated patients (P = 0.00), while H(2) levels were significantly higher within the diarrheal phenotype (P = 0.01). IBS severity was not correlated with either H(2) levels (r = 0.02; P = 0.84) or CH(4) levels (r = 0.05; P = 0.64). H(2) production was inversely correlated with the quality of life (r = −0.24; P = 0.03) and significantly correlated with the HAD scale (r = 0.22; P = 0.03). The pain and discomfort experienced during GBT was not correlated with methane levels (r = −0.09, P = 0.40), hydrogen levels (r = −0.01, P = 0.93), or sum of both (r = 0.06, P = 0.58), but significantly associated with IBS severity (r = 0.50, P <0.00). CONCLUSION: SIBO has a high prevalence in IBS but does not increase its severity. Individual susceptibility to pain may have a greater influence on the severity of IBS.