Lactose-Application-Guide.pdf

A P P L I C A T I O N G U I D E L I N E S A P P L I C A T I O N G U I D E L I N E S What this test does: Precisely diagnoses the most common form of carbohydrate malabsorption. Avoids the misdiagnosis of milk allergy. Turn-around Time 10 days Lactose Intolerance Breath Test G A S T R O / I M M U N E A S S E S S M E N T S Overview More than 50 million Americans can’t digest lactose (milk sugar) or other sugars because they lack the appropriate enzyme in their digestive systems.1 They may suf- fer from bloating, diarrhea, flatulence, abdominal cramps and discomfort and may never realize the cause of their symptoms. The almost identical symptom picture between self-reported milk intolerance and irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) suggests that fermentation of malabsorbed lactose is likely reponsible for many cases of IBS.2 The digestive system uses specific enzymes to break down sugars into smaller com- ponents. Disaccharidases are enzymes with the ability to hydrolyze disaccharides into monosaccharides, smaller molecules that the body absorbs more easily.3 When an individual doesn’t produce enough of a particular enzyme to break down a carbohydrate into simpler sugars, the carbohydrate travels into the colon. There, the bacteria fermenting the carbohydrate produce gas. Osmotic imbalances create diar- rhea, and the gases cause the bloating seen in individuals with carbohydrate intoler- ances. Over time, the intestinal mucosal lining becomes irritated. There are degrees of carbohydrate intolerance. Some individuals manufacture a small amount of the enzyme, while others lack the enzyme completely. Any degree will result in malabsorption.4 Unfortunately, many people never relate their symptoms to their diet and continue to eat foods they cannot digest properly. Studies indicate that as many as 70% of lac- tose intolerant patients do not relate their symptoms to lactose ingestion. At times, individuals may even mislead their physicians by denying a connection to their symptoms