BACK TOTOP Browse A-ZSearchBrowse A-ZABCDEFGHIJKLMNOPQRSTUVWXYZ0-9 E-mail FormEmail ResultsName:Email address:Recipients Name:Recipients address:Message: Print-FriendlyBookmarksbookmarks-menuD-xylose absorptionXylose tolerance test; Diarrhea - xylose; Malnutrition - xylose; Sprue - xylose; Celiac - xyloseD-xylose absorption is a laboratory test to check how well the intestines absorb a simple sugar (D-xylose). The test helps detect if nutrients are being properly absorbed. How the Test is Performed The test requires a blood and urine sample. These tests include:Clean catch urine specimen Clean catch urine specimenA urine culture is a lab test to check for bacteria or other germs in a urine sample. It can be used to check for a urinary tract infection in adults...ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Venipuncture (blood draw)Venipuncture (blood draw)Venipuncture is the collection of blood from a vein. It is most often done for laboratory testing.ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article There are several ways to perform this test. A typical procedure is described below, but make sure you follow the specific instructions you are given.You will be asked to drink 8 ounces (240 ml) of water that contains 5 teaspoons (25 grams) of a sugar called d-xylose. The amount of d-xylose that comes out in your urine over the next 5 hours will be measured. You may have a blood sample collected at 1 and 3 hours after drinking the liquid. In some cases, the sample may be collected every hour. The amount of urine you produce over a 5-hour period is also checked. Your health care provider will tell you how to collect all of the urine during a 5-hour period. How to Prepare for the Test Do not eat or drink anything (even water) for 8 to 12 hours before the test. Your provider will ask you to rest during the test. A failure to restrict activity may affect test results.Your provider may tell you to stop taking certain medicines that can affect test results. Medicines that can affect test results include aspirin, atropine, indomethacin, isocarboxazid, and phenelzine. DO NOT stop taking any medicine without first talking to your provider. How the Test will Feel When the needle is inserted to draw blood, you may feel moderate pain, or only a prick or stinging sensation. Afterward, there may be some throbbing.Urine is collected as part of normal urination with no discomfort. Why the Test is Performed Your provider may order this test if you have:Persistent diarrhea Signs of malnutrition Unexplained weight loss This test is primarily used to check if nutrient absorption problems are due to a disease of the intestines. It is performed much less often than in the past. Normal Results A normal result depends on how much D-xylose is given. In most cases, the test results are either positive or negative. A positive result means that D-xylose is found in the blood or urine and is therefore being absorbed by the intestines.Normal value ranges may vary slightly among different laboratories. Some labs use different measurements or test different samples. Talk to your provider about the meaning of your specific test results. What Abnormal Results Mean Lower than normal values may be seen in:Celiac disease (sprue) Celiac disease (sprue)Celiac disease is an autoimmune condition that damages the lining of the small intestine. This damage comes from a reaction to eating gluten. This ...ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Crohn disease Crohn diseaseCrohn disease is a disease where parts of the digestive tract become inflamed. It most often involves the lower end of the small intestine and the be...ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Giardia lamblia infestation GiardiaGiardia, or giardiasis, is a parasitic infection of the small intestine. A tiny parasite called Giardia lamblia causes it.ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Hookworm infestation HookwormHookworm infection is caused by roundworms. The disease affects the small intestine and lungs.ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Lymphatic obstruction Lymphatic obstructionLymphatic obstruction is a blockage of the lymph vessels that drain fluid from tissues throughout the body and allow immune cells to travel where the...ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Radiation enteropathy Radiation enteropathyRadiation enteritis is damage to the lining of the intestines (bowels) caused by radiation therapy, which is used for some types of cancer treatment....ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Small intestinal bacterial overgrowth Viral gastroenteritis Viral gastroenteritisViral gastroenteritis is present when a virus causes an infection of the stomach and intestine. The infection can lead to diarrhea and vomiting. It...ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Whipple diseaseWhipple diseaseWhipple disease is a rare condition that mainly affects the small intestine. This prevents the small intestine from allowing nutrients to pass into ...Read Article Now Book Mark Article Risks There is little risk involved with having your blood taken. Veins and arteries vary in size from one person to another and from one side of the body to the other. Taking blood from some people may be more difficult than from others.Other risks associated with having blood drawn are slight, but may include:Fainting or feeling lightheaded Multiple punctures to locate veins Hematoma (blood buildup under the skin) Excessive bleeding Infection (a slight risk any time the skin is broken) Considerations Multiple tests may be necessary to determine the reason for malabsorption.MalabsorptionMalabsorption involves problems with the body's ability to take in (absorb) nutrients from food.ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Open ReferencesReferencesFloch MH. Evaluation of the small bowel. In: Floch MH, ed. Netter's Gastroenterology. 3rd ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2020:chap 62.Semrad CE. Approach to the patient with diarrhea and malabsorption. In: Goldman L, Schafer AI, eds. Goldman-Cecil Medicine. 26th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2020:chap 131.Siddiqi HA, Rabinowitz S, Axiotis CA. Laboratory diagnosis of gastrointestinal and pancreatic disorders. In: McPherson RA, Pincus MR, eds. Henry's Clinical Diagnosis and Management by Laboratory Methods. 24th ed. St Louis, MO: Elsevier; 2022:chap 23.AllVideoImagesTogMale urinary system - illustration The urinary system is made up of the kidneys, ureters, urethra and bladder.Male urinary systemillustrationD-xylose level tests - illustration The D-xylose tolerance tests measure the intestines' ability to absorb D-xylose, a simple sugar, as an indicator of whether nutrients are being properly absorbed.D-xylose level testsillustrationMale urinary system - illustration The urinary system is made up of the kidneys, ureters, urethra and bladder.Male urinary systemillustrationD-xylose level tests - illustration The D-xylose tolerance tests measure the intestines' ability to absorb D-xylose, a simple sugar, as an indicator of whether nutrients are being properly absorbed.D-xylose level testsillustration Tests for D-xylose absorption D-xylose absorptionRelated Information Crohn disease(Condition)Giardia infection(Condition)Hookworm infection(Condition)Lymphatic obstruction(Condition)Radiation enteritis(Condition)Celiac disease – sprue(Condition)Viral gastroenteritis (stomach flu)(Condition)Whipple disease(Condition)Crohn disease - InDepth(In-Depth) Review Date: 2/7/2022 Reviewed By: Michael M. Phillips, MD, Emeritus Professor of Medicine, The George Washington University School of Medicine, Washington, DC. Also reviewed by David Zieve, MD, MHA, Medical Director, Brenda Conaway, Editorial Director, and the A.D.A.M. Editorial team. The information provided herein should not be used during any medical emergency or for the diagnosis or treatment of any medical condition. A licensed medical professional should be consulted for diagnosis and treatment of any and all medical conditions. Links to other sites are provided for information only -- they do not constitute endorsements of those other sites. No warranty of any kind, either expressed or implied, is made as to the accuracy, reliability, timeliness, or correctness of any translations made by a third-party service of the information provided herein into any other language. © 1997- A.D.A.M., a business unit of Ebix, Inc. 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D-xylose absorptionXylose tolerance test; Diarrhea - xylose; Malnutrition - xylose; Sprue - xylose; Celiac - xyloseD-xylose absorption is a laboratory test to check how well the intestines absorb a simple sugar (D-xylose). The test helps detect if nutrients are being properly absorbed. How the Test is Performed The test requires a blood and urine sample. These tests include:Clean catch urine specimen Clean catch urine specimenA urine culture is a lab test to check for bacteria or other germs in a urine sample. It can be used to check for a urinary tract infection in adults...ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Venipuncture (blood draw)Venipuncture (blood draw)Venipuncture is the collection of blood from a vein. It is most often done for laboratory testing.ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article There are several ways to perform this test. A typical procedure is described below, but make sure you follow the specific instructions you are given.You will be asked to drink 8 ounces (240 ml) of water that contains 5 teaspoons (25 grams) of a sugar called d-xylose. The amount of d-xylose that comes out in your urine over the next 5 hours will be measured. You may have a blood sample collected at 1 and 3 hours after drinking the liquid. In some cases, the sample may be collected every hour. The amount of urine you produce over a 5-hour period is also checked. Your health care provider will tell you how to collect all of the urine during a 5-hour period. How to Prepare for the Test Do not eat or drink anything (even water) for 8 to 12 hours before the test. Your provider will ask you to rest during the test. A failure to restrict activity may affect test results.Your provider may tell you to stop taking certain medicines that can affect test results. Medicines that can affect test results include aspirin, atropine, indomethacin, isocarboxazid, and phenelzine. DO NOT stop taking any medicine without first talking to your provider. How the Test will Feel When the needle is inserted to draw blood, you may feel moderate pain, or only a prick or stinging sensation. Afterward, there may be some throbbing.Urine is collected as part of normal urination with no discomfort. Why the Test is Performed Your provider may order this test if you have:Persistent diarrhea Signs of malnutrition Unexplained weight loss This test is primarily used to check if nutrient absorption problems are due to a disease of the intestines. It is performed much less often than in the past. Normal Results A normal result depends on how much D-xylose is given. In most cases, the test results are either positive or negative. A positive result means that D-xylose is found in the blood or urine and is therefore being absorbed by the intestines.Normal value ranges may vary slightly among different laboratories. Some labs use different measurements or test different samples. Talk to your provider about the meaning of your specific test results. What Abnormal Results Mean Lower than normal values may be seen in:Celiac disease (sprue) Celiac disease (sprue)Celiac disease is an autoimmune condition that damages the lining of the small intestine. This damage comes from a reaction to eating gluten. This ...ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Crohn disease Crohn diseaseCrohn disease is a disease where parts of the digestive tract become inflamed. It most often involves the lower end of the small intestine and the be...ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Giardia lamblia infestation GiardiaGiardia, or giardiasis, is a parasitic infection of the small intestine. A tiny parasite called Giardia lamblia causes it.ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Hookworm infestation HookwormHookworm infection is caused by roundworms. The disease affects the small intestine and lungs.ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Lymphatic obstruction Lymphatic obstructionLymphatic obstruction is a blockage of the lymph vessels that drain fluid from tissues throughout the body and allow immune cells to travel where the...ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Radiation enteropathy Radiation enteropathyRadiation enteritis is damage to the lining of the intestines (bowels) caused by radiation therapy, which is used for some types of cancer treatment....ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Small intestinal bacterial overgrowth Viral gastroenteritis Viral gastroenteritisViral gastroenteritis is present when a virus causes an infection of the stomach and intestine. The infection can lead to diarrhea and vomiting. It...ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Whipple diseaseWhipple diseaseWhipple disease is a rare condition that mainly affects the small intestine. This prevents the small intestine from allowing nutrients to pass into ...Read Article Now Book Mark Article Risks There is little risk involved with having your blood taken. Veins and arteries vary in size from one person to another and from one side of the body to the other. Taking blood from some people may be more difficult than from others.Other risks associated with having blood drawn are slight, but may include:Fainting or feeling lightheaded Multiple punctures to locate veins Hematoma (blood buildup under the skin) Excessive bleeding Infection (a slight risk any time the skin is broken) Considerations Multiple tests may be necessary to determine the reason for malabsorption.MalabsorptionMalabsorption involves problems with the body's ability to take in (absorb) nutrients from food.ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Open ReferencesReferencesFloch MH. Evaluation of the small bowel. In: Floch MH, ed. Netter's Gastroenterology. 3rd ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2020:chap 62.Semrad CE. Approach to the patient with diarrhea and malabsorption. In: Goldman L, Schafer AI, eds. Goldman-Cecil Medicine. 26th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2020:chap 131.Siddiqi HA, Rabinowitz S, Axiotis CA. Laboratory diagnosis of gastrointestinal and pancreatic disorders. In: McPherson RA, Pincus MR, eds. Henry's Clinical Diagnosis and Management by Laboratory Methods. 24th ed. St Louis, MO: Elsevier; 2022:chap 23.