Lactose intolerance What to check for in hospital

Lactose intolerance patients can go to the hospital to do lactose tolerance test, hydrogen breath test, small intestine biopsy and other tests.

1. Lactose tolerance test

Drinking a solution containing lactose on an empty stomach, and then monitoring changes in glucose levels in the blood. If lactose is not digested properly, blood sugar levels will rise slowly.

2. Hydrogen breath test

This is a non-invasive test to assess whether lactose is broken down. After a patient ingests a solution containing lactose, if lactose is not digested, hydrogen is fermented in the intestine to produce hydrogen, which is then excreted by respiration.

3. Small intestine biopsy

In some cases, small intestine biopsy may be required to directly observe lactase activity.