tests of carbohydrate malabsorption
Last reviewed 01/2018
Tests of monosaccharide absorption:
- xylose tolerance test
- jejunal biopsy
Tests of disaccharide absorption:
- breath hydrogen test - using lactose or sucrose
- measurement of plasma glucose following oral dose of lactose or sucrose
- measurement of disaccharidase activity in jejunal biopsy samples
- faecal acidity - faecal pH may fall due to bacterial malabsorption of unabsorbed carbohydrate
Radiological studies - intestinal hurry and dilatation may be demonstrated by mixing the appropriate sugar with barium.