One of the most common underlying causes of chronic indigestion, lactose intolerance is estimated to affect more than 50 million Americans.1 Despite its high prevalence, however, misdiagnosis of this condition often occurs because its primary symptoms often overlap with those of other gastrointestinal disorders.

Clinical evidence indicates that as many as 70% of lactose intolerant patients do not relate their chronic symptoms of intestinal upset and indigestion to consuming lactose.2 This is one reason that healthcare experts advise that all patients with symptoms of irritable bowel syndrome (indigestion, bloating, gas, abdominal pain, irregularity, etc) be accurately diagnosed for lactose intolerance using specific laboratory tests.3

Lactose intolerance arises from an enzyme (lactase) deficiency in the gut. Without adequate amounts of lactase, the digestive system is unable to properly break down and absorb lactose, the main sugar in milk and dairy products. When this happens, lactose is fermented by bacteria in the colon, causing symptoms of bloating, diarrhea, flatulence, and abdominal cramps.

Lactose intolerance is the most common type of malabsorption because milk sugar is common in a typical diet.

Lactase reaches its maximum levels in the human intestine shortly after birth and declines after the age of 3 1/2. Lactase retention is genetically determined as a dominant trait.

Lactose malabsorption often is recognized for the first time in older patients, possibly because they are more sensitive to intestinal problems. They may have endured gas and other symptoms for years without connecting the symptoms to their diet.4

Conditions that damage the intestinal lining can create lactose malabsorption, such as infectious diarrhea, intestinal parasites or inflammatory bowel disease. Alcoholism, malnutrition, pelvic radiation therapy and drugs such as antibiotics can also trigger lactose malabsorption.5

Transient, unpleasant symptoms of indigestion are not the only problems associated with lactose intolerance. Ongoing carbohydrate malabsorption can keep the digestive system constantly weakened, leading to systemic disorders. The body cannot obtain needed nutrients if other intestinal symptoms disrupt absorption. The weakened digestive system is also more susceptible to attack by parasites, yeast and bacterial overgrowth.

A reliable test for lactose intolerance can differentiate lactose intolerance from other digestive problems such as milk allergy. An accurate diagnosis is important because many patients donÕt relate intestinal troubles to what they eat or because patients may be unnecessarily avoiding dairy products.

The breath hydrogen test is the standard for testing lactose intolerance. In the breath hydrogen test, a patient fasts overnight, ingests a challenge dose of lactose the next morning, and collects breath samples at timed intervals. If the lactose is not broken down by the lactase enzyme in the small intestine, it travels to the colon and undergoes bacterial fermentation. Due to fermentation, hydrogen levels in breath will rise within one to two hours.

The Lactose Intolerance Breath Test measures both hydrogen and methane gases. Testing for both breath hydrogen and methane provides a more comprehensive picture than testing for hydrogen alone, reducing the number of false negative responses.

This breath test is highly sensitive and specific for lactose malabsorption. It is able to quantify incomplete absorption of even small amounts of lactose, leading to a more precise estimate as to the degree of malabsorption compared to other methods. This enables patients to moderate their diets and enjoy more foods.

The test is noninvasive, economical, easy-to-take, and well-tolerated by patients.

References:
1 Rusynyk RA, Still CD. Lactose intolerance. J Am Osteopath Assoc 2001 Apr;101(4 Suppl Pt 1):S10-2.

2 DiPalma JA, Narvaez RM. Prediction of lactose malabsorption in referral patients. Dig Dis Sci 1988;33(3):303-07.

3 Schuster MM. Defining and diagnosing irritable bowel syndrome. Am J Manag Care 2001;7(8):S246-S251.

4 Solomons NW. Evaluation of carbohydrate absorption: the hydrogen breath test in clinical practice. Clin Nutr J 1984;3(2):71-78.

5 Hoffman M, William LeGro, and the editors of Prevention Magazine. Disease free : how to prevent, treat, and cure more than 150 illnesses and conditions. Emmaus, PA : Rodale Press, 1993;328-31.

All lab tests can be done through the mail in the privacy of your own home, except blood tests, we send you to a lab to have your blood drawn for these. After you pay for the test we mail you the kit, the results take two weeks, the test results will be mailed to us and we will call you to go over the results, its that easy! All tests include the consultation for the report of findings.

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