A model and program for study of a tolerance curve: application to lactose absorption tests.

A method has been devised for the analysis of tolerance curves, and tested on data collected for the diagnosis of lactose malabsorption with lactose tolerance tests. Two different models were fitted to over 100 experimental curves; the need to allow small changes over time in the glucose baseline level became evident, indicating that a model allowing a time trend is preferable. The results are briefly discussed and the biological significance of the quantities estimated by the method is discussed.