Hydrogen breath test cleveland clinic

The beverage may cause cramping, bloating, gas, or diarrhea. Fifteen minutes after drinking the beverage, you will be instructed to blow up balloon-like bags every 15 minutes for two hours. The air you breathe into these bags is tested frequently for the presence of hydrogen. Normally, very little is detected in breath. However, hydrogen and other gases are produced when undigested lactose in the colon is fermented by bacteria.

Raised hydrogen breath levels indicate the improper digestion of lactose, which could lead to a diagnosis of lactose intolerance or the presence of abnormal bacteria in the colon. Your doctor may have other recommendations in addition to, or instead of, the ones listed above. Ask your doctor to provide you with written instructions prior to your test. You may resume your normal activities and diet after a hydrogen breath test.

A health care provider will discuss the results of the test with you. Would you like to switch to the accessible version of this site?

Go to accessible site Close modal window. Don't need the accessible version of this site? However, individuals who are lactose intolerant may not be able to tolerate even small amounts of this sugar in their diet.

Lactose intolerance occurs more frequently in certain families. The rate of lactose intolerance is also very high in individuals of Asian descent, Hispanic descent, Native Americans and Jewish individuals. Lactose intolerance is diagnosed by a simple test called a hydrogen breath test. After a overnight fast before the test, an individual breathes into a bag and then drinks a specified amount of the milk sugar as a syrup. In adults this corresponds to the amount of milk sugar in a quart of milk.

Subsequent breath samples are taken for up to three hours. The breath that they exhale into the bag is analyzed to determine its hydrogen content.

During the test individuals who are lactose intolerant will have an increase in the amount of hydrogen that they exhale. If the values for hydrogen increase above a certain value, the diagnosis of lactose intolerance is made. Patients who are lactose intolerant may also develop their typical symptoms during the test. In those who cannot undergo testing, removal of lactose from the diet and possible supplementation with lactase can be done for 2 weeks to see if this improves the symptoms and see if symptoms return if lactose is added back to the diet..

The best treatment of lactose intolerance is a combination of dietary modification to avoid lactose containing foods, and if eating foods with lactose taking a supplement to aid in digestion of lactose.

Individuals who are lactose intolerant should meet with a dietician to review the sources of lactose in their diet. Some reduction in the daily lactose consumption is usually required. When an individual is going to be eating a food that contains lactose they should take a commercially available non-prescription lactase supplement at the time of lactose ingestion. This type of supplement can be taken throughout the day whenever lactose is ingested.

Some individuals will be less lactose intolerant and therefore will be able to tolerate comparatively larger amounts of lactose. Alternatives to milk for lactose intolerant individuals include products such as soy milk.

This is especially important for pediatric patients and women. One such test, the hydrogen breath test, calculates the amount of hydrogen in your breath after drinking a lactose-rich beverage, per the Mayo Clinic.

Too much hydrogen shows that you're not properly digesting and absorbing lactose. There's also a blood test that determines the quantity of glucose in your bloodstream after sipping a lactose-based drink.

In this case, if your glucose level doesn't increase, it indicates that your body isn't digesting and absorbing lactose, according to the Mayo Clinic. Any time you're struggling with stomach-related symptoms that cause discomfort, you should seek medical help, Dr. And always see a doctor if you have any red flag signs such as unintended weight loss or bloody stool, especially if you have a family history of bowel issues, she says. While lactose intolerance can't be cured, you can manage your symptoms or even be symptom-free by controlling your diet and monitoring your lactose intake, Dr.

Most people preserve a certain level of lactase activity and can have some lactose without symptoms. Through trial and error, you can discover which dairy products you can tolerate. Some foods contain less lactose, such as hard cheeses, and may produce little or no GI distress. The following foods are considered high-lactose products as they possess approximately 5 to 8 grams of lactose, per the Cleveland Clinic:.

Supplementing with lactase enzyme — available in over-the-counter products like Lactaid — may help you digest lactose-containing foods and decrease stomach discomfort.

The 5 Best Digestive Enzyme Supplements. If you're limiting lactose-rich foods, you might be concerned about getting enough calcium because milk and dairy are rich sources of the mineral, which is essential for bone health. Luckily, you can still get the calcium you need to maintain a balanced diet through other food sources. Nondairy foods high in calcium include:. If need be, you can also consult with your doctor or a registered dietitian about taking a calcium supplement.

Health Digestive Conditions Digestive Health. Jaime Osnato.