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A modified lactose tolerance test for determining the degree of lactose malbsorption in an individual
Author(s) -
Tadesse K.
Publication year - 1989
Publication title -
journal of human nutrition and dietetics
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.951
H-Index - 70
eISSN - 1365-277X
pISSN - 0952-3871
DOI - 10.1111/j.1365-277x.1989.tb00036.x
Subject(s) - malabsorption , lactose , medicine , lactase , excretion , breath test , hydrogen breath test , gastroenterology , lactose intolerance , degree (music) , food science , chemistry , physics , acoustics , helicobacter pylori
The loss of intestnal lactase in primary lactose malabsorption is partial and variable. The amount of lactose that a malabsorber can handle depends on the remaining lactase activity. As there are no satisfactory clinical tests to evaluate the degree of malabsorption, the Possibility of using the breath hydrogen test to determine the threshold of lactose absorption in individuals was investigated. Eighteen fasted primary lactose malabsorbers were challenged with graded. volumes of cow's milk on different days. Malabsorption was assessed indirectly. by measuring the change in end‐expiratory breath hydrogen. Each subject was able to take a specific quantity of milk without a significant change in the level of hydrogen excretion in the breath. A very small increase in intake above this level increased the breath hydrogen excretion indicating malabsorption. The breath hydrogen test applied in this manner is a suitable, appropriate and acceptable technique for determining the threshold of lactose malabsorption.