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Alteration of CO₂ Production during Nonfasting Isotopic CO₂ Breath Tests: Concise Communication

Veterans Administration Medical Center and University of Florida College of Medicine, Gainesville, Florida

Correspondence: For reprints contact: Dr. C. E. King, Gastroenterology Section, Veterans Administration Medical Center, Gainesville, FL 32602.

ABSTRACT

Carbon isotope breath tests are often interpreted assuming a constant endogenous production of CO₂ (some including calculations assuming a specific production of 9 mmol CO₂/body weight per hour). We have evaluated the endogenous-CO₂ production following ingestion of caloric meals varying with the range of most currently available carbon isotope breath tests. On three separate test days, fasting basal CO₂ production was 8.08 ± 0.55, 8.00 ± 0.47, and 8.23 ± 0.48 mmol/ kg-hr (mean ± s.e.m.), with a range 6–11 mmol/kg-hr. Administration of zero and 100 kcal led to no significant change from the basal CO₂ production. In contrast, administration of 200 kcal or more led to significant elevation of endogenous CO₂ production both by normal subjects and by subjects with nutrient malabsorption. This phenomenon could influence interpretation of some nonfasting isotopic CO₂ breath tests; it deserves further evaluation.