PATTERNS OF METHANE PRODUCTION IN A BURMESE (MYANMAR) POPULATION

While up to 50% of Western populations produce methane, this is less t han that of rural black Africans and there is no information on methan e production in populations from Asian developing countries. Females c onsistently produce methane more commonly than males, and methane prod uction in children under the age of five years, except in Nigeria, is unusual. Breath methane was sampled in 1426 subjects from Myanmar rang ing in age from 1 month to 88 years, with a mean age of 26.2 years. Ha lf (49.8%) of the Myanmar population produced methane, this figure com prising 53% of females and 46% of males sampled. Methane production in creases with age and reaches adult levels after 10 years of age. A hig h prevalence of methane production was found in children under 3 years of age (15.8%). Methane production was absent in 13 solely breast-fed children and increased as other food was introduced into the diet. Th ere was an association of methane production within families and with smoking. The prevalence of methane production increased in male and fe male smokers, with 75% of smokers producing methane. Methane productio n was not associated with occupation, education, income, water source, latrine type, previous diarrhoea, antibiotic usage or socio-economic status.