Reducing Substances Stool Test – Fast, Accurate Carbohydrate Malabsorption Detection

Description

Reducing Substances (Stool) Test – Fast, Accurate Carbohydrate Malabsorption Detection

The Reducing Substances (Stool) Test from Lab Tests Dubai is a critical diagnostic tool used to detect undigested carbohydrates in the stool—key indicators of carbohydrate malabsorption and disaccharidase deficiencies such as lactose intolerance.

When the small intestine lacks enzymes like lactase or sucrase, sugars like lactose and sucrose remain unabsorbed and pass into the colon, where they are fermented by gut bacteria—causing bloating, gas, diarrhea, and abdominal pain.

This test identifies reducing sugars (e.g., glucose, galactose, fructose) in stool samples using advanced chemical analysis, delivering accurate results within just 1 day—making it ideal for diagnosing chronic diarrhea, especially in infants, children, and adults with suspected food intolerances.

Available with home sample collection kits, Lab Tests Dubai makes digestive health testing easy, hygienic, and stress-free across Dubai and the UAE.

Why You Need This Test

If you or your child suffers from chronic digestive discomfort after meals, this test could be the missing diagnostic link.

You need the Reducing Substances Stool Test if:

• You experience chronic watery diarrhea after consuming dairy or sugary foods
• Your child has failure to thrive or poor weight gain
• You suspect lactose intolerance or milk allergy
• You’ve been diagnosed with gastroenteritis, celiac disease, or Crohn’s and have ongoing symptoms
• You’re evaluating carbohydrate malabsorption in infants or toddlers

This test is especially valuable in pediatrics, where non-invasive stool testing avoids the need for blood draws or complex procedures.

Early detection helps:

• Confirm lactose or sucrose intolerance
• Guide dietary elimination plans
• Prevent malnutrition and dehydration
• Avoid unnecessary treatments

Symptoms That Indicate This Test

Consider this test if you or a loved one is experiencing:

• Chronic or recurrent watery diarrhea
• Abdominal bloating, cramps, or distension after meals
• Excessive gas or flatulence
• Nausea or discomfort after consuming milk, dairy, or sweets
• Unexplained weight loss or poor growth (in children)
• Symptoms mimicking IBS or food allergy
• History of intestinal infection or inflammation (e.g., rotavirus, giardia)

These symptoms may point to enzyme deficiency or carbohydrate malabsorption—and the Reducing Substances Testprovides objective, lab-confirmed evidence.

Natural Production: How Carbohydrates Are Digested (and What Goes Wrong)

Carbohydrates are broken down in the small intestine by specific enzymes:

• Lactase → breaks down lactose (milk sugar)
• Sucrase → breaks down sucrose (table sugar)
• Maltase → breaks down maltose

When these enzymes are deficient or damaged (due to:

• Genetic lactase deficiency
• Post-infectious enteropathy (e.g., after rotavirus)
• Celiac disease
• Inflammatory bowel disease ), undigested sugars reach the colon.

There, gut bacteria ferment them, producing:

• Hydrogen gas → bloating, flatulence
• Short-chain acids → osmotic diarrhea

These unabsorbed sugars are reducing agents—detectable in stool, confirming malabsorption.

This test doesn’t measure enzyme levels directly—but the presence of reducing substances is a strong indirect markerof disaccharidase deficiency.

What Happens If Untreated? Risks of Ignoring Carbohydrate Malabsorption

Leaving malabsorption undiagnosed can lead to serious complications:

⚠️ Malnutrition & Vitamin Deficiencies

• Poor absorption of nutrients, fats, and fat-soluble vitamins (A, D, E, K)

⚠️ Dehydration & Electrolyte Imbalance

• From chronic diarrhea, especially dangerous in infants

⚠️ Failure to Thrive (in Children)

• Poor weight gain, developmental delays

⚠️ Chronic Gut Inflammation

• Ongoing irritation from fermentation and acid production

⚠️ Misdiagnosis as IBS or Allergy

• Leading to ineffective treatments

Early testing allows for simple, effective interventions like lactose-free diets, enzyme supplements, or treatment of underlying conditions.

How to Prepare for the Test

Preparing for the Reducing Substances Stool Test is simple:

✅ No fasting required
✅ Eat a normal diet—especially include dairy or carbohydrate-rich foods 24 hours before to trigger symptoms
✅ Do not collect stool during diarrhea caused by acute infection unless advised (can cause false positives)
✅ Use the sterile container provided in the Lab Tests Dubai kit
✅ Avoid mixing urine with stool during collection
✅ Keep sample refrigerated until delivery

Our team provides a complete home collection kit with clear instructions—ideal for infants, children, and busy families.

Test Overview: Chemistry-Based Stool Analysis

The test uses the copper reduction method (similar to Clinitest) to detect free reducing sugars in stool. A positive result(color change) indicates >0.5% sugar in stool—suggesting malabsorption.

Note: False positives can occur with:

• Recent oral contrast agents
• High-dose vitamin C
• Fructose or sorbitol ingestion

Always interpret results in clinical context.

FAQs About the Reducing Substances Stool Test

Q: Can this test diagnose lactose intolerance?
A: It’s a screening tool—a positive result suggests carbohydrate malabsorption, often due to lactase deficiency. Confirmed with hydrogen breath test or elimination diet.

Q: Is this test suitable for babies?
A: Yes! It’s commonly used in infants with chronic diarrhea or poor weight gain.

Q: How much stool is needed?
A: Just 1–2 teaspoons—collected in the provided sterile container.

Q: Can I collect the sample at home?
A: Yes! Lab Tests Dubai provides home collection kits with instructions and cold transport.

Q: How will I get results?
A: A secure digital report is emailed within 24 hours, including result and clinical interpretation.

Q: Can I eat normally before the test?
A: Yes. In fact, consume dairy or carbs 24h before to increase detection chances.

Don’t let bloating, gas, or chronic diarrhea control your life. If you suspect lactose intolerance or carbohydrate malabsorption, the Reducing Substances (Stool) Test gives you clear, fast answers in just one day.