CORRELATION OF HYDROGEN AND METHANE PRODUCTION TO RICE CARBOHYDRATE MALABSORPTION IN BURMESE (MYANMAR) CHILDREN

Rice carbohydrate malabsorption is common in Burmese village children and adults and may contribute to diminished growth. Its diagnosis depe nds on a rice breath hydrogen test, which has limitations. Almost 20% of Burmese children under age 5 produce methane, compared with less th an 7% of children in Africa and Hong Kong. If an increased carbohydrat e load in the colon due to rice malabsorption provides increased subst rate for methanogenic bacteria in the left colon, higher fasting breat h methane concentrations might be a simpler method of diagnosing rice malabsorption. We tested breath hydrogen and methane over a 4-h period and did anthropometric measurements in 142 subjects, 79 children, and 63 adults. Seventy percent of children were rice-malabsorbers. Methan e production occurred in 20% of children under 5 years of age and incr eased to 60% of adults. There is an association of rice malabsorption with reduced length. There was not correlation between rice malabsorpt ion and breath methane, and the concentration of breath methane does n ot, therefore, indicate rice absorption status and cannot replace rice breath hydrogen tests.