To confirm the presence of lactose intolerance, it is important to consult a gastroenterologist, to evaluate the symptoms and perform tests such as a respiratory test, stool test and/or intestinal biopsy.
Lactose intolerance is the body’s inability to digest the sugar present in milk, lactose, causing symptoms such as colic, gas and diarrhea, which appear a few moments after eating foods with lactose.
Although it is normally diagnosed in childhood, lactose intolerance can also develop in adulthood, with more or less intense symptoms depending on the severity of the intolerance. See a more complete list of lactose intolerance symptoms.
1. Watch for symptoms of lactose intolerance
Lactose intolerance typically causes symptoms such as abdominal bloating, poor digestion, diarrhea and gas, which appear shortly after eating foods with lactose, such as milk, yogurt or butter, for example.
If you think you may have lactose intolerance, select your symptoms in this online test to find out your risk:
Symptoms can also manifest themselves with more or less intensity depending on the degree of inability to produce lactase, which is the enzyme that digests cow’s milk.
2. Take a food exclusion test
If you suspect you may have lactose intolerance, a good strategy is to stop consuming milk and dairy products for a period of 7 days.
If after this period you no longer show symptoms, drink some milk again and observe your body’s reaction. If symptoms return, it is possible that it is, in fact, lactose intolerance.
See how to follow a lactose-free diet.
3. Go to the doctor and get tested
To be sure that it is lactose intolerance, the ideal is to consult a gastroenterologist, who will evaluate the symptoms and order tests such as:
- Stool examination: measures the acidity of feces and is very common to detect lactose intolerance in babies and young children.
- Exhaled air test: measures the abnormal presence of hydrogen in exhaled air after ingesting lactose diluted in water.
- Blood test: measures the amount of glucose in the blood after taking lactose diluted in water in the laboratory.
- Bowel biopsy: in this case a small sample of the intestine is analyzed under a microscope to identify the presence or absence of specific cells that determine lactose intolerance. Despite being very useful, it is less used because it is more invasive.
These tests can be requested by the general practitioner or allergist in case of suspected lactose intolerance or when the food exclusion test leaves some doubts. See the main tests used to diagnose lactose intolerance.
It is very important to diagnose lactose intolerance to adapt the diet and avoid unpleasant symptoms, as well as improving the absorption of nutrients in the intestine. Understand what a lactose intolerance diet should be like.
