Orocecal transit time and small intestinal bacterial overgrowth in type 2 diabetes patients from North India.

BACKGROUND: Diarrhea, constipation, flatulence, and abdominal pain are common complaints in type 2 diabetes patients. Impaired intestinal motility is often followed by small intestinal bacterial overgrowth (SIBO). Therefore, this study was planned to determine the incidence of SIBO and its relation with orocecal transit time (OCTT) in type 2 diabetes patients.

SUBJECTS AND METHODS: SIBO and OCTT were measured by using noninvasive glucose and lactulose hydrogen breath tests, respectively. For this study, 84 patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus in the age range 30-65 years and 45 age-matched apparently healthy controls were enrolled.

RESULTS: The glucose hydrogen breath test was suggestive of SIBO in 15.5% of patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus but in one (2.2%) of controls. There was a significant increase (P<0.001) in OCTT in type 2 diabetes patients compared with controls. It was also observed that OCTT in type 2 diabetes patients with SIBO was significantly delayed (P<0.001) compared with type 2 diabetes patients without SIBO.

CONCLUSION: This study indicates that SIBO in diabetes patients may be due to delayed OCTT.