Lactose Intolerance Lab Report

Introduction:

Lactose intolerance is a condition concerned with the inability of the small intestine to produce sufficient quantities of the lactase enzyme in order to digest lactose (1). Approximately two thirds of the world’s population is affected by this inability and it is often one of the most prevalent gastrointestinal disorders diagnosed by primary care physicians (2, 3). When a person suffering from lactase deficiency consumes lactose in their food, their body is unable to process and absorb the lactose, and so it travels directly to the colon (4). Once it has reached the colon, the undigested lactose interacts with the normal colonic bacteria, presenting the signs and symptoms of lactose maldigestion (4).

The Relationship between

The first of these tests is the hydrogen breath test (9). This test involves a simple procedure of measuring the increase in concentration of hydrogen gas in the pulmonary excretion of hydrogen gas (refer to Figure 2 for the results of a study on patients who have undertaken this examination) (9, 6). If this increase is greater than 20 parts per million after 20g of lactose is consumed, then the patient can be identified as having lactose maldigestion (11). This method of diagnosis is widely available and a great deal more sensitive than other techniques (6). Another examination known as the lactose intolerance test, which still has quite a high sensitivity of 75%, involves undertaking a simple blood test to measure the rise in serum glucose within 60 to 120 minutes following ingestion of 50g of lactose (11). A rise of greater than 1.11mmol/L of serum glucose as well as a display of general symptoms of lactose maldigestion, indicates that the person is most likely lactose intolerant (11, 6). Finally, measurement of the pH of a stool sample or a small-bowel biopsy may also lead to an accurate diagnosis of lactose intolerance (9, 3). However, this method can often be quite invasive for patients, and therefore, it is often simpler and just as reliable to undergo a hydrogen breath test. In most cases lactose intolerance can simply

Foods such as milk-cereal mixtures, yoghurts, cheeses and curds are more willingly accepted by the body due to the partial hydrolysis of lactose by the bacteria during their preparation (11, 5). Furthermore, these foods delay the entry of lactose into the small intestine due to their thicker consistency, permitting better absorption (11). As most individuals suffering from lactose intolerance have the ability to tolerate up to 12g of lactose without showing symptoms of discomfort, often times they are able to consume a small quantity of skim milk on a daily basis (9). It is of crucial importance that a person with lactose maldigestion does not experience a depletion in calcium intake (3). As such, it is encouraged that lactose containing compounds be slowly reintroduced if possible, as this may cause a change in the intestine which may permit a higher level of milk intake (11). If symptoms return and are causing distress, other methods of maintaining calcium intake, such as consuming vitamin D and calcium tablets, would be advised (9). All in all, when symptoms are severe, a person with the disorder should be encouraged to consume food products which do not contain high quantities of lactose