OROCECAL TRANSIT, BACTERIAL OVERGROWTH AND HYDROGEN-PRODUCTION IN DIABETES-MELLITUS

Orocaecal transit time was investigated using the hydrogen breath test in 39 insulin-requiring patients with long-standing Type I diabetes m ellitus and 26 healthy control subjects. Thirty four patients complain ed of different gastrointestinal symptoms. The standard meal consisted of 10 g lactulose in 150 ml tap water. Mean transit time was signific antly longer in the patient group (106.4+/-31.1 min) than in control s ubjects (84.2+/-27.1 min), and differences in OCTT between symptomatic subgroups were also significant. No correlation was found between oro caecal transit time and gastric emptying of a solid meal measured with scintigraphic method, HbA1c values, and other signs of autonomic and peripheral neuropathy. The incidence of bacterial overgrowth among the diabetics was minimal. The percentage of H-2 nonproducers did not sig nificantly differ between control and patient groups (23% and 26%, res pectively). The absolute amount of breathed hydrogen was, however, sig nificantly lower in diabetics at all time intervals. This indicates th at specific changes in hydrogen production may be related to pathophys iological features as a consequence or as an associated symptom.