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The lactose tolerance test and intestinal lactase activity

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Summary

THERE is a correlation between the maximum blood glucose rise following the oral investion of lactose and jejunal lactase activity. Many patients with a low maximum blood glucose rise have normal lactase activity and so the test may only be employed as a screening test. Following the ingestion of 50 G lactose a maximum blood glucose rise of at least 1.5 mmol/l is required before one may assume normal lactase activity. A normal maximum blood glucose rise in the presence of low lactase activity is rare and is not associated with lactose intolerance.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Medicine and Gastroenterology, The Charitable Infirmary, Jervis Street, Dublin 1

    J. F. Flelding, Shella Baynes & P. J. Fottrell

  2. The Department of Biochemistry, University College, Galway

    J. F. Flelding, Shella Baynes & P. J. Fottrell

Authors
  1. J. F. Flelding
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  2. Shella Baynes
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  3. P. J. Fottrell
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Flelding, J.F., Baynes, S. & Fottrell, P.J. The lactose tolerance test and intestinal lactase activity. Ir J Med Sci 152, 196–198 (1983). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02954717

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02954717

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