Go with your gut – the benefits of testing for primary lactose intolerance and genetic coeliac disease at the same time

Symptoms such as bloating, diarrhoea and stomach pain can be common indicators of various gastrointestinal illnesses, including both coeliac disease and lactose intolerance. 

When you’ve got symptoms like these, it can be difficult to work out what’s causing them, as many diseases and conditions can present in similar ways.

Rather than take a single test for either lactose intolerance or coeliac disease, AlphaBiolabs recommends taking a DNA health test for both genetic primary lactose intolerance and genetic coeliac disease  at the same time to help you determine the cause of your symptoms faster. This in turn means that you can make changes in your diet or seek treatment to improve pain or discomfort more quickly.

Some of the common symptoms of lactose intolerance and coeliac disease are similar and include:

• bloating
• flatulence (passing wind)
• diarrhoea (sometimes followed by constipation)
• stomach cramps/rumbling
• nausea or vomiting

Symptoms usually subside when the foods responsible (dairy products for lactose intolerance or gluten for coeliac disease) are removed from the diet.

Obtain a precise result more quickly and in the convenience of your own home

If you have already removed these food items from your diet in a bid to reduce symptoms, taking both tests at the same time can be particularly useful.  This is because our tests analyse DNA markers to determine whether or not you have a genetic condition. Your DNA doesn’t change if you remove something from your diet – you are either genetically predisposed to these conditions or are not. Therefore, our tests can also tell you whether you are at risk of developing coeliac disease or primary lactose intolerance in the future, before you’ve even developed symptoms.

If you have already cut out dairy products or gluten from your diet, you are unlikely to get answers from some other confirmatory diagnostic methods. For example, coeliac disease diagnosis is often confirmed by antibody tests, and lactose intolerance by the hydrogen breath test. Because of the nature of these tests, a person must continue to consume gluten or dairy products to obtain a positive result. Our coeliac and lactose genetic tests not only allow you to distinguish between the conditions, but can also help you find the cause of your symptoms without re-introducing foods that may cause pain or discomfort.

A two-test approach is ideal if you want to quickly find out if the cause of your symptoms is due to coeliac disease or primary lactose intolerance, as our tests are quick, pain-free, and can be done in the comfort of your own home. The tests only require simple buccal (mouth) swabs to collect the DNA at home, which is much quicker than travelling to your GP or nearest clinic and then waiting to take multiple tests, often on separate days. Our genetic tests help speed up the diagnostic process so you can get the support you need to feel better sooner.

If you are not aware of a family history of coeliac disease / lactose intolerance, you may also find it informative to take both of these tests at the same time, particularly if you have symptoms. The results of the tests can tell you whether you carry the genes associated with coeliac disease or lactose intolerance and whether you are at risk of developing the disorder(s) or passing the risk on to your offspring.

You can show the results of both the genetic coeliac disease and lactose intolerance tests to your doctor, who can then investigate further and help you with a plan to minimise symptoms. Distinguishing between gastrointestinal disorders can be challenging, but by taking both our genetic coeliac disease and primary lactose intolerance tests together, you can quickly obtain the right diagnosis and medical care.

Save money by ordering both tests together

For just £99 for a single test, either the  Genetic Coeliac Disease Test or Genetic Lactose Intolerance Test can tell you whether you have the genes associated with either condition. However, you can order both tests together for just £168 – a saving of £30 – to get the answers you need.

The tests analyse DNA markers for the genes that cause both conditions. Simply collect your cheek swab samples at home, return them to our award-winning laboratory, and receive your secure, confidential results via email in 4-5 days. 

The test can be performed on anyone of any age, from young children to adults. However, we strongly advise that you speak to your doctor before making any decisions regarding dietary changes based on the results of the test.

If your results show that the genes that cause primary coeliac disease or lactose intolerance are not present, this means that you are unlikely to develop either condition in the future.

However, if you have received negative test results and continue to experience symptoms that are causing you concern, we strongly recommend that you visit your GP for further support and guidance.

For more information, contact our friendly and knowledgeable Customer Services team on 0333 600 1300 or email health@alphabiolabs.com