NON-INVASIVE DIAGNOSTIC METHOD FOR THE EVALUATION OF INTESTINAL LACTASE DEFICIENCY (HYPOLACTASIA)

摘要

The test of the invention comprises the measuring the total amount of xylose in urine and/or its concentration in blood following oral administration of 4-O-β-D-galactopyranosyl-D-xylose (4-GX) to the patient. It is a non-invasive test that is based on the direct evaluation of the global enzyme activity in the whole individual, not on measuring the metabolic consequences derived from its deficiency. It does not require specialised equipment, does not cause apparent discomfort in patients with lactase deficiency and is very reliable, thus overcoming the drawbacks of the diagnostic tests currently in use and is a statistically significantly better test in terms of its reliability; consequently it should become the reference or gold standard test for the indication of hypolactasia.