Flatulence

Excessive accumulation and expulsion of intestinal gas through the anus, often associated with abdominal distension, discomfort, bloating, or borborygmi.

Causes

• Aerophagia (swallowed air)

  • Eating or drinking too quickly

  • Carbonated beverages

  • Smoking

  • Chewing gum

• Dietary causes

  • Fermentable complex carbohydrates

  • Beans

  • Broccoli

  • Cabbage

  • Other gas-producing vegetables

  • High-fiber foods

• Artificial sweeteners

  • Sorbitol

  • Mannitol

  • Xylitol

• Food intolerance and malabsorption

  • Lactose intolerance

  • Fructose intolerance

  • Other carbohydrate malabsorption disorders

• Gastrointestinal disorders

  • Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS)

  • Celiac disease

  • Small intestinal bacterial overgrowth (SIBO)

  • Constipation

  • Disorders causing delayed intestinal transit