Lactose Intolerance – Diagnosis & Treatment

3Hydrogen Test

A hydrogen test is quite similar to a lactose tolerance exam in which you have to drink a liquid filled with lactose. But in this procedure, your doctor will measure the level of hydrogen in the breath instead of the level of glucose. In general, hydrogen can be hard to detect. But when the body does not digest lactose as usual, it would ferment your colon and release hydrogen. This substance will be then absorbed by the intestines and exhaled. Thus, if the results indicate a higher level of hydrogen in your breath, you might have lactose intolerance. Before taking this test, your doctor might ask you to avoid consuming dairy products several days in advance to ensure more precise results. [3]

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