The effects of methane and hydrogen gases produced by enteric bacteria on ileal motility and colonic transit time.

In isolated guinea pig ileum segments in a peristaltic tissue bath, hydrogen shortened colonic transit time by 47% in the proximal colon, and by 10% in the distal colon, compared with baseline (P < 0.05). The authors concluded that hydrogen shortened colonic transit, and that effect was more prominent in the proximal colon than distal colon. These findings come from a laboratory model and suggest molecular hydrogen's biological potential. Further research is needed to determine clinical relevance.