Abdominal bloating is a very common digestive symptom. Research on bloating shows that the most common cause is dietary, i.e. food intolerance. Hence, while it is important to consider medical causes, dietary strategies have been shown to have the greatest benefit in relieving bloating. Medication has a limited effect on food intolerance.
Hydrogen/methane breath testing is a simple way to test for sugar intolerance like lactose and fructose intolerance. It can also test for SIBO (small intestine bacterial overgrowth), another important cause of bloating. These are simple and common diagnoses that are often missed. Seeing the specialist dietitian for a low FODMAP diet is another way to identify the specific foods that trigger one's bloating.
My group practice sees many patients for bloating. The majority of them have their underlying problem diagnosed through hydrogen/ methane breath testing and dietary approaches. This is consistent with what international research studies show.
