Reducing Substances
Sample: Stools
Schedule: Daily
Units:
Range: Negative
Remarks: Reducing substances test is used in order to find deficiencies of intestinal enzymes as disaccharidases (sucrase and lactase ). In normal people sugars are absorbed in the small intestine. In patients with positive reducing substanecs test the sugars remain in the intestine and cause osmotic diarrhea (caused by the osmotic pressure of the unabsorbed sugar in the intestine), drawing fluid and electrolytes into the gut.
