Lactose Intolerance (Breath Test)
Laboratory service for the diagnosis of lactose intolerance, whether primary, secondary, or transient.
What is Lactose Intolerance?
Lactose is a complex sugar found in milk and dairy products. Once consumed, it is utilized by the enzyme Lactase, which breaks down lactose into two simple sugars: galactose and glucose.
Lactose intolerance occurs when there is a deficiency of the enzyme Lactase, produced by the small intestine. This deficiency can be:
Primary (genetic)
Secondary / transient
In the absence of Lactase, the digestive process is not completed, and undigested sugars accumulate in the intestine, causing a fermentation process by the intestinal bacterial flora.
Symptoms
In individuals with lactose intolerance, the consumption of milk and its products can cause:
Abdominal bloating
Abdominal pain and cramps
Diarrhea
Fatigue
Test Principle
In the presence of intolerance, undigested sugars ferment and produce hydrogen.
The breath test measures the level of hydrogen in the air exhaled by the patient, before and after lactose consumption.
This method diagnoses:
Primary (genetic) intolerance
Secondary or transient intolerance
Preparation before the Test
Do not eat for at least 8 hours (from midnight of the previous night);
Do not use antibiotics, laxatives, or lactic ferments during the week before the test;
Light dinner the night before the test (rice, white meat or fish, and water). Avoid sausages, butter, and margarine;
Do not smoke in the hours and minutes before the test;
During the test, do not eat anything. You may only drink a small amount of plain water (half a glass).