After you drink a liquid that contains high levels of lactose, your doctor measures the amount of hydrogen in your breath at regular intervals. Breathing out too much hydrogen indicates that you aren't fully digesting and absorbing lactose. Lactose tolerance test. Two hours after drinking a liquid that contains high levels of lactose, you'll undergo blood tests to measure the amount of glucose in your bloodstream.
If your glucose level doesn't rise, it means your body isn't properly digesting and absorbing the lactose-filled drink. Email address. First Name let us know your preferred name. Last Name. Thank you for subscribing Your in-depth digestive health guide will be in your inbox shortly.
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Lactose intolerance: Clinical manifestations, diagnosis, and management. Accessed Feb. Di Costanzo M, et al. Lactose intolerance: Common misunderstandings.
Lactose intolerance. Symptoms vary from person to person, but may include: gas , diarrhea , bloating, belly pains and nausea. There is no treatment for lactose intolerance, but symptoms can be managed through diet changes. Lactose intolerance is when your body can't break down or digest lactose. Lactose is a sugar found in milk and milk products. Lactose intolerance happens when your small intestine does not make enough of a digestive enzyme called lactase. Lactase breaks down the lactose in food so your body can absorb it.
People who are lactose intolerant have unpleasant symptoms after eating or drinking milk or milk products. These symptoms include bloating, diarrhea and gas. Both children and adults can have lactose intolerance. Here are some common causes of this condition:. Symptoms often start about 30 minutes to 2 hours after you have food or drinks that have lactose.
How severe your symptoms are will depend on how much lactose you have ingested and how much lactase your body makes. The symptoms of lactose intolerance may look like those of other health problems. Always see your healthcare provider to be sure. Your healthcare provider will talk to you about your past health and family history. He or she will give you a physical exam.
You may be asked not to have any milk or milk products for a short time to see if your symptoms get better. While lactose intolerance and irritable bowel syndrome IBS are two different conditions, both can cause similar symptoms for people who drink milk or eat milk products. This article explains why. There is no treatment that can help your body make more lactase. But you can manage your symptoms by changing your diet. It's important to check with your GP or dietitian whether you should be taking supplements, however, as taking excessively high levels of calcium can cause side effects.
In addition to dietary changes, you may also find it useful to take liquid drops, tablets or capsules that contain lactase substitutes. These are available from most health foods shops. Lactase substitutes replace the lactase your small intestine is not producing, which can reduce your symptoms by helping your body break down any lactose in your diet more easily.
Lactase substitutes can either be added to milk or taken just before eating a meal containing lactose. If your child is lactose intolerant, they may be able to consume small amounts of lactose without experiencing symptoms. This is quite safe, but you may need to experiment to find out how much they can comfortably eat or drink.
If your child is unable to tolerate any lactose, your doctor may refer you to a dietitian for nutritional advice. This is because it's important for young children to have certain nutrients in their diet to ensure healthy growth and development.
For babies with lactose intolerance, lactose-free formula milk is available to buy from pharmacies and supermarkets. But soya formula is not recommended for children under 6 months because it contains hormones that may interfere with your baby's future physical and sexual development.
Breastfed babies may benefit from lactase substitute drops to help their bodies digest the lactose in breast milk. It does not put them at greater risk of becoming lactose intolerant and has important health benefits for your baby. Find out more about the benefits of breastfeeding.
Page last reviewed: 25 February Next review due: 25 February Changing your diet In most cases, cutting down on or avoiding food and drink containing lactose and replacing them with lactose-free alternatives is enough to control the symptoms of lactose intolerance.
You can also add lactase drops to milk before you drink it. The lactase breaks down the lactose in foods and drinks, lowering your chances of having lactose intolerance symptoms. Check with your doctor before using lactase products. Some people, such as young children and pregnant and breastfeeding women, may not be able to use them. Treatments depend on the cause of lactose intolerance.
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