Does Breeza Drink Cause Diarrhea in Most People?
No, Breeza does not cause diarrhea in most people—in fact, it is specifically designed as a neutral oral contrast agent that is well-tolerated and does not typically induce gastrointestinal symptoms. 1
Evidence from Clinical Use
The only available clinical study on Breeza demonstrates excellent tolerability:
- 84.8% of pediatric patients completed the entire prescribed Breeza preparation, compared to only 51.5% who completed a barium sulfate suspension alternative 1
- Patients rated Breeza significantly higher for both taste (6.1 vs 2.7 out of 10) and texture (7.3 vs 3.6 out of 10) compared to the alternative contrast agent 1
- No reports of diarrhea or gastrointestinal adverse effects were documented in this prospective randomized study of 66 pediatric patients 1
Composition and Mechanism
Breeza is formulated as a neutral (negative) oral contrast material for cross-sectional enterography imaging 1. The term "neutral" indicates it does not contain osmotically active substances that would draw water into the intestinal lumen—the primary mechanism by which beverages cause diarrhea 2, 3.
Why Most Beverages Cause Diarrhea
Diarrhea from beverages typically occurs through two mechanisms:
- Osmotic diarrhea: Non-absorbable carbohydrates (fructose, sorbitol, maltodextrin) create an osmotic load that pulls water into the gut lumen 2, 3, 4
- Carbohydrate malabsorption: When fructose exceeds glucose concentration (as in apple/pear juice) or when sorbitol is present, absorption is impaired and diarrhea results 2
Breeza's design as a neutral contrast agent specifically avoids these problematic ingredients.
Clinical Context
Common pitfall: Confusing Breeza with high-sugar fruit juices or sports drinks that contain fermentable carbohydrates. Unlike apple juice, pear juice, or drinks containing sorbitol—which commonly cause "toddler's diarrhea" when consumed in excess—Breeza is engineered for medical imaging and does not contain these osmotically active sugars 2.
The high completion rate (85%) and superior palatability scores indicate that Breeza is not only well-tolerated but actually preferred by patients over traditional contrast preparations 1.