DIAGNOSTIC VALUE OF SUCROSE TOLERANCE TEST IN CHILDREN EVALUATED BY BREATH HYDROGEN MEASUREMENT

Abstract

An oral sucrose tolerance test was performed in 103 children, aged 3 mo.-15 yr, because of episodic diarrhea and/or abdominal pains. Sucrose malabsorption defined as an abnormal increase in expired H2, was found in only 3 children who suffered from congenital sucrase-isomaltase deficiency. This 1% incidence of sucrose malabsorption was lower than the incidence of lactose malabsorption found in this group (33%). Mean rise in blood glucose during the sucrose test was higher (3.4 .+-. 1.4 vs. 2.4 .+-. 1.2 mmol/l, P < 0.001) and the occurrence of false flat blood glucose curves was lower (3% vs. 12.8%, P < 0.05) than during the lactose test. The findings are consistent with the higher sucrase activity in the small bowel mucosa compared to lactase. In contrast to the lactose tolerance test, sucrose tolerance test should not be used as a screening procedure for secondary disaccharidase deficiency in children.