This year Dietitian Week takes place between 6-10 June, marking the third annual awareness week for dietitians.
Established by the British Dietetic Association (BDA), the week’s aim is to highlight the work and worth of dietitians and the impact of the dietetic profession in the UK.
Registered dietitians are the only qualified health professionals that assess, diagnose and treat dietary problems. And diagnosis can be done swiftly and with ease thanks to the Gastrolyzer range of breath hydrogen/methane monitors, produced by Bedfont Scientific, based in Kent.
By measuring the amount of hydrogen and/or methane in a patient's breath that is caused by the breakdown of food in the gut, the Gastrolyzer investigates if a patient has any sugar-related food intolerances such lactose intolerance and can also be used to help detect other gastrointestinal disorders such as SIBO and IBS. Unlike more-conventional methods, which can take up to two weeks to diagnose, the simple breath test does not require a blood sample and provides instant results. Additionally, the new protocol option allows dietitians to test multiple patients at once, saving valuable time.
Louise Gankerseer-Hodgson, head of dietetics at London Bridge Hospital, said: “Hydrogen and methane measures are useful, helping to contribute to our patients’ assessments and therefore tailored therapies.”
One patient, who received a Gastrolyzer breath test at London Bridge Hospital, added: “I found the breath testing procedure very useful. The machine and home-kit equipment allowed me to measure what food groups had been affecting my day-to-day life. I found it a very straightforward test and the procedure ran smoothly.”
