Why Use LacCheck Hydrogen Breath Test to Diagnose Lactose Intolerance or Lactose Malabsorption?
Diagnosing lactose intolerance by removing milk from the diet is not a simple matter because: • Asking about eating habits may not disclose a relationship which is separated by several hours, • The patient may not obstain from all products containing lactose during a test period because lactose appears in unsuspected places, • Moderate lactose intolerance may not be obvious, and may obscure or complicate the diagnosis of other digestive diseases. In a study reported by DiPalma and Narvaez in 1989, more than 2/3 of all patients referred to their GI clinic for cramps, pain, diarrhea and flatulence had some degree of lactose intolerance. It is important to have an objective test which will not only indicate whether or not lactose intolerance is present, but give some indication of its severity. If the lactase deficiency is not too severe (as indicated by a small response in the LacCheck test), the patient can drink milk and consume milk products in moderation. If the response is large, it
