| Summary: | Background: Untreated celiac disease has traditionally been linked to a greater risk for small intestinal bacterial overgrowth, but the existing evidence is inconclusive.
Aims: To compare the prevalence of small intestinal bacterial overgrowth in subjects with celiac disease compared with control subjects and patients with irritable bowel syndrome.
Material and methods: The study included 15 untreated celiac disease patients, 15 subjects with irritable bowel syndrome, and 15 healthy controls. All enrolled patients underwent a lactulose breath test measuring hydrogen and methane. Small intestinal bacterial overgrowth was defined according to previously published criteria.
Results: No differences were found in relation to age or sex. The prevalence of small intestinal bacterial overgrowth was similar between the celiac disease patients and the controls (20 vs. 13.33%, P = NS), whereas it was higher in patients with irritable bowel syndrome (66.66%, P < 05).
Conclusion: There was no difference in the prevalence of small intestinal bacterial overgrowth between the untreated celiac disease patients and healthy controls.
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