title: [Analysis of a lactose tolerance test].
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The present study analyzes the Lactose Tolerance Test in order to propose a reduction in the length of it.
  
  
  METHODS
  Cross-sectional, descriptive study.
  
  
  METHODS
  Glycemia curves of patients considered tolerant and intolerant were compared. Results were analyzed for 56 patients. A cost minimization analysis was performed.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Six patients had a normal curve of tolerance and the other 50 had flat curves. Both groups had similar basal levels of glycemia 93.3 and 90.3 (p=0.1). Glycemia levels measured at 30 minutes were 122 and 86.0 (p= 0.003) and at 60 minutes 108.3 and 87.5 (p=0.02), both groups being statistically different. Values at 120 minutes were not statically different between both groups (p=0.4) and not different from basal levels.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Diagnosis of lactose intolerance could be made using a shorter test, without considering the 120-minute figure. A 25% reduction in user s cost could be attained using the modified method as compared with the standard test.
authors.affiliation: Internos de Medicina, Universidad Nacional Mayor de San Marcos, Peru.
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Montes Teves
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Soria Medina
authors.forename: Z I
authors.initials: ZI
authors.lastname: Gamarra Espinoza
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Monge Salgado
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007787:Lactose Intolerance / Q000175:diagnosis*; D008297:Male