Lactose Intolerance Test
 Undergoing a lactose intolerance test may be a good idea if you're experiencing symptoms such as nausea, bloating, abdominal cramps, and diarrhea after eating dairy products. People who are lactose intolerant experience these symptoms because they can't fully digest milk sugar from dairy products. This is because they have low levels of the lactase enzyme, which attaches to lactose molecules in the foods they eat and breaks them down into two simple sugars -- glucose and galactose. These sugars are later absorbed into the bloodstream.
If you are lactose intolerant, the lack of lactase in your system causes most of the lactose in your food to move unprocessed into your colon. Once in your colon, it will interact with bacteria and cause symptoms of lactose intolerance. When you visit your doctor for a lactose intolerance test, your physician may suspect lactose intolerance based on your symptoms. Still, he or she may conduct one or more of the following tests to confirm the diagnosis:
- The lactose intolerance test - this exam measures your body's reaction to ingesting a liquid that contains high levels of lactose. Your doctor will draw your blood two hours after you've consumed the lactose-filled drink, then he or she will gauge the amount of glucose in your bloodstream. If the level of glucose in your body doesn't increase, it means your body isn't properly digesting the lactose-laden drink.
- Hydrogen breath test - like the lactose intolerance exam, this test involves drinking liquid that contains high amounts of lactase. Once consumed, your doctor will intermittently measure the levels of hydrogen in your breath. Normally, small amounts of hydrogen are detectable. However, when lactose isn't digested properly, it will make its way into your colon and ferment, causing the release of hydrogen and other gases. These gases are then absorbed by your intestines, and later exhaled. If you exhale a large amount of hydrogen during your test, your doctor will conclude that you aren't breaking down and absorbing lactose.
Unfortunately, there isn't a cure for lactose intolerance, nor are there medications you can take as a treatment to increase your lactase enzyme levels. However, you can minimize symptoms by eating less dairy products or by taking lactase enzyme supplements before you eat any dairy products.
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