Sorbitol malabsorption and abdominal discomfort in patients
What it found
Sorbitol malabsorption was found in 48% of patients with functional abdominal discomfort who took a breath test.
After testing and nutrition advice, 54% of those patients reported fewer symptoms and less impact on daily life.
What they found
Studies in people
How common
H2-sorbitol breath tests were performed in 252 patients. In 122 of them (48%), sorbitol malabsorption was diagnosed.
Symptom improvement
In 66 of these patients (54%), the questionnaire showed a significant improvement in the frequency of abdominal discomfort after sorbitol testing and nutritional counseling.
Daily life impact
The same questionnaire showed a significant improvement in how much these symptoms influenced daily life after testing and counseling.
Patients studied
Five hundred and ten patients with functional abdominal discomfort were referred for hydrogen breath testing. Of these, 65.5% were female and 34.5% were male, with a mean age of 45±16.4 years.
What the authors conclude
“Sorbitol malabsorption is a common finding in patients with functional abdominal discomfort.”
Also in their conclusions
- They say sorbitol malabsorption is a common finding in patients with functional abdominal discomfort.
- They conclude that dietary intervention positively affects abdominal symptoms in these patients.
How it was done
The role of sorbitol malabsorption in patients with functional abdominal discomfort had not been finally clarified. The authors wanted to evaluate its clinical significance, diagnosed by sorbitol hydrogen breath testing.
They looked back at data from all patients referred to their hospital for hydrogen breath testing between May 1st, 2013 and December 31st, 2014. Patients with confirmed sorbitol malabsorption completed a symptom-based questionnaire before and after nutritional counseling.
What it can’t tell you
- We summarised it from the abstract only.
- This was a retrospective study, so it can show links but not prove that sorbitol malabsorption or the dietary advice caused the changes.
- The questionnaire results rely on patients reporting their own symptoms, which can be subjective.
Who paid
- Authors work at
- Technical University of Munich, Germany; Technical University of Munich, Germany -
The paper
- Title
- Sorbitol malabsorption in patients with abdominal discomfort
- Type
- Study
- Evidence
- Studies in people
- Summarised from
- Abstract only
- Cite
- Klee B, Barske O, Mack A, et al (2018). Sorbitol malabsorption in patients with abdominal discomfort. Minerva gastroenterologica e dietologica. doi:10.23736/S1121-421X.17.02329-7PubMed 28994566DOI
Summary written 26 Sep 2026. Check it against the paper before it changes what you eat. How we summarise papers · Report an error