Sections

Workup

Laboratory Studies

Lactose tolerance test

This test is rarely done in clinical practice.

Measure serial blood glucose levels after an oral lactose load. A fasting serum glucose level is obtained, after which 50 g of lactose is administered.^[22]Measure the serum glucose level at 0, 60, and 120 minutes.

The lactose tolerance test has a sensitivity of 75% and a specificity of 96%.

False-negative results occur in the presence of diabetes and small bowel bacterial overgrowth. Abnormal gastrointestinal emptying can also affect the results of the lactose tolerance test.^[23]

The diagnosis is confirmed if the serum glucose level fails to increase by 20 g/dL above the baseline.

Milk tolerance test

Administer 500 mL of milk and measure the blood glucose level.

An increase of less than 9 mg/dL indicates lactose malabsorption.^[24]

Imaging studies

Imaging tests are not helpful in the diagnosis of primary lactose intolerance, but they may be helpful for excluding secondary causes.

Breath hydrogen test

This is the diagnostic test of choice.

Subjects are administered lactose after an overnight fast, after which expired air samples are collected before and at 30-minute intervals for 3 hours to assess hydrogen gas concentrations.

A rise in breath hydrogen concentration greater than 20 parts per million over the baseline after lactose ingestion suggests lactase deficiency.^[22]

Dietary elimination

Resolution of symptoms with the elimination of lactose-containing food products and resumption of symptoms with their reintroduction are findings suggestive of lactose intolerance.^{[25, 26]}

Small bowel biopsy

This is the criterion standard; however, it is invasive and rarely performed. A major advantage is that it provides definitive information.

Biopsy samples from the small bowel are assayed for lactase activity. The biopsy results may be normal if the deficiency is focal or patchy.

This is not readily available and is not usually necessary.

Treatment & Management

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Author

Praveen K Roy, MD, AGAF Clinical Assistant Professor of Medicine, University of New Mexico School of Medicine

Praveen K Roy, MD, AGAF is a member of the following medical societies: American Gastroenterological Association, American Society for Gastrointestinal Endoscopy

Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Coauthor(s)

Sarah D Komanapalli, MBBS Resident Physician in Internal Medicine, Marshfield Clinic

Sarah D Komanapalli, MBBS is a member of the following medical societies: American College of Physicians

Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Homayoun Shojamanesh, MD Former Fellow, Digestive Diseases Branch, National Institutes of Health

Homayoun Shojamanesh, MD is a member of the following medical societies: American College of Gastroenterology, American Gastroenterological Association, American Society for Gastrointestinal Endoscopy

Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Showkat Bashir, MD Assistant Professor, Department of Medicine, Division of Gastroenterology, George Washington University, Washington, DC

Showkat Bashir, MD is a member of the following medical societies: American College of Gastroenterology, American College of Physicians, American Gastroenterological Association, American Medical Association

Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Specialty Editor Board

Francisco Talavera, PharmD, PhD Adjunct Assistant Professor, University of Nebraska Medical Center College of Pharmacy; Editor-in-Chief, Medscape Drug Reference

Disclosure: Received salary from Medscape for employment. for: Medscape.

BS Anand, MD Professor, Department of Internal Medicine, Division of Gastroenterology, Baylor College of Medicine

BS Anand, MD is a member of the following medical societies: American Association for the Study of Liver Diseases, American College of Gastroenterology, American Gastroenterological Association, American Society for Gastrointestinal Endoscopy

Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Chief Editor

Burt Cagir, MD, FACS Professor of Surgery, Geisinger Commonwealth School of Medicine (GCSOM); Director, General Surgery Residency Program, Executive Director, Donald Guthrie Foundation for Research and Education, Guthrie Robert Packer Hospital; Medical Director, Guthrie/RPH Skills and Simulation Lab; Associate in Surgery, Guthrie Robert Packer Hospital and Corning Hospital

Burt Cagir, MD, FACS is a member of the following medical societies: American College of Surgeons, Association of Program Directors in Surgery, Society for Surgery of the Alimentary Tract

Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Additional Contributors

Ronnie Fass, MD, FACP, FACG Chief of Gastroenterology, Head of Neuroenteric Clinical Research Group, Southern Arizona Veterans Affairs Health Care System; Professor of Medicine, Division of Gastroenterology, University of Arizona School of Medicine

Ronnie Fass, MD, FACP, FACG is a member of the following medical societies: American College of Gastroenterology, American College of Physicians-American Society of Internal Medicine, American Gastroenterological Association, American Neurogastroenterology and Motility Society, American Society for Gastrointestinal Endoscopy, Israeli Medical Association

Disclosure: Received grant/research funds from Takeda Pharmaceuticals for conducting research; Received consulting fee from Takeda Pharmaceuticals for consulting; Received honoraria from Takeda Pharmaceuticals for speaking and teaching; Received consulting fee from Vecta for consulting; Received consulting fee from XenoPort for consulting; Received honoraria from Eisai for speaking and teaching; Received grant/research funds from Wyeth Pharmaceuticals for conducting research; Received grant/research funds f.

Douglas M Heuman, MD, FACP, FACG, AGAF Chief of Hepatology, Hunter Holmes McGuire Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Center; Professor, Department of Internal Medicine, Division of Gastroenterology, Virginia Commonwealth University School of Medicine

Douglas M Heuman, MD, FACP, FACG, AGAF is a member of the following medical societies: American Association for the Study of Liver Diseases, American College of Physicians, American Gastroenterological Association

Disclosure: Received grant/research funds from Novartis for other; Received grant/research funds from Bayer for other; Received grant/research funds from Otsuka for none; Received grant/research funds from Bristol Myers Squibb for other; Received none from Scynexis for none; Received grant/research funds from Salix for other; Received grant/research funds from MannKind for other.

Abhishek Choudhary, MD Resident Physician, Department of Internal Medicine, University Hospital of Missouri-Columbia

Abhishek Choudhary, MD is a member of the following medical societies: American College of Physicians

Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Lactose Intolerance Workup

Laboratory Studies

Lactose tolerance test

Milk tolerance test

Other Tests

Imaging studies

Breath hydrogen test

Dietary elimination

Procedures

Small bowel biopsy

Lactose Intolerance Workup

Laboratory Studies

Lactose tolerance test

Milk tolerance test

Other Tests

Imaging studies

Breath hydrogen test

Dietary elimination

Procedures

Small bowel biopsy

References

Tables

Contributor Information and Disclosures

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