Alternative names
Milk intolerance; Lactase deficiency; Disaccharidase deficiency; Dairy intolerance
Definition
It is the inability to digest lactose, a type of sugar found in milk and other dairy products, and is caused by an insufficiency of the enzyme lactase.
Causes, incidence and risk factors back to the beginning
Lactose intolerance occurs when the small intestine does not produce enough of the enzyme lactase. Babies' bodies produce this enzyme so they can digest milk, including breast milk. Before humans became farmers and processed dairy products, most people did not continue to consume milk in their lives, so they did not produce lactase after the early stages of infancy.
People from cultures in which consumption of milk and dairy products in adults occurred first are less likely to have lactose intolerance than those from villages where consumption of dairy products began more recently. As a result, lactose intolerance is more common in Asian, African, African-American, Native American, and Mediterranean populations than in Northern and Western European populations.
Lactose intolerance can begin at various times in life. In Caucasians, it usually begins in children older than 5 years of age; while in black people, the condition often presents up to two years of age.
When people with lactose intolerance eat or drink dairy products, they may experience symptoms such as abdominal distension, excess intestinal gas, nausea, diarrhea and abdominal cramps.
Lactose intolerance is not dangerous and is very common in adults. Approximately 30 million American adults have some degree of lactose intolerance by the age of 20.
Lactose intolerance is sometimes seen in premature babies, and full-term babies usually don't show signs of the condition until they are at least 3 years old.
The fact of not consuming milk in the diet can cause a lack of calcium, vitamin D, riboflavin and proteins; therefore a milk substitute is necessary. Soy milk formulas are suitable substitutes for infants under 2 years of age, and for toddlers, soy milk and rice milk are good alternatives. Older children can also consume lactase-treated cow's milk. Goat's milk is low in lactose, but should only be used in children if it is properly fortified with essential vitamins and amino acids.
Most people with low lactase levels can tolerate 2 to 4 ounces of milk at one time (up to a half cup), but larger servings (8 ounces) can cause problems for those with some degree of milk intolerance.
Lactase deficiency can also occur as a result of intestinal diseases such as celiac sprue and gastroenteritis or also manifest after intestinal surgery. Temporary lactase deficiency may occur from viral or bacterial infections, especially in children, when the cells lining the intestine are damaged.
Symptom back to the beginning
- abdominal cramps
- Distension
- Flatulence
- Weight loss
- Malnutrition
- Slow growth
- Abdominal distension
- Diarrhea
- floating stools
- Foul-smelling stools
Symptoms frequently occur after ingestion of dairy products and are often relieved by discontinuation of dairy products. Large doses of dairy products can cause worse symptoms.
signs and tests
- Test for stool-reducing substances
- lactose tolerance test
- Lactose-hydrogen breath test
- small intestine biopsy
Transmission back to the beginning
Symptoms are generally relieved by discontinuation of dairy products in the diet, in which case other sources of calcium should be incorporated into the diet.
Fermented milk products such as yogurt can usually be tolerated. Goat's milk is sometimes tolerated by patients, but it is recommended that it be taken with meals, not alone. Likewise, it should be considered that milk butter and cheese have less lactose than milk itself.
Consuming lactose-free milk and dairy products can help. Similarly, lactase enzymes can be added to regular milk or taken in capsule or chewable tablet form.
Reading food labels is advised, as lactose is found in some non-dairy products, including some beers.
Expectations (prognosis) back to the beginning
Symptoms usually go away once dairy products in the diet are stopped.
Complications back to the beginning
Possible complications are weight loss and malnutrition.
Situations requiring medical assistance back to the beginning
Medical assistance should be sought if a child or adult exhibits symptoms of lactose intolerance in order to find substitute foods. Also when symptoms worsen or do not improve with treatment or in case new symptoms appear.
Prevention back to the beginning
There is no known way to prevent the development of lactose intolerance. However, if you have this condition, dairy products can be avoided or restricted to reduce or eliminate symptoms.
Teens
You probably know someone who is lactose intolerant. Perhaps that person is a family member, a friend, or yourself. Lactose intolerance is very common, in fact, as 70% of the world's population is lactose intolerant. It is most common among Asian Americans, African Americans, and Native Americans, but it affects people of all races and ethnic backgrounds. Keep reading to learn more about lactose intolerance!
What is lactose?
Lactose is a natural sugar found in milk and other dairy products. Your body makes an enzyme called lactase that can be broken down into lactose and sugars that your body can digest and use for energy.
What is lactose intolerance?
If you have lactose intolerance, your body may not be able to break down all the lactose that you eat or drink. People who have lactose intolerance have problems such as stomach pain or cramps, gas, bloating, or diarrhea after eating or drinking foods that contain milk.
How can I know if I have lactose intolerance?
If you have nausea, stomach pain or cramps, gas, bloating, or diarrhea within 15 minutes to several hours after eating or drinking foods with lactose, you may have lactose intolerance.
What can I do if I think I have lactose intolerance?
If you think you might have lactose intolerance, it is very important that you see your health care provider. Don't try to diagnose yourself. The same discomfort caused by lactose intolerance can be caused by other conditions including Crohn's disease, irritable bowel syndrome, and an infection of the small intestine. These conditions can be serious if they are not treated properly. Your healthcare provider is the only person who can confirm that you are lactose intolerant or have any other conditions. Once you have the correct diagnosis you can work with your healthcare provider or nutritionist to manage your symptoms.
How can your health care provider determine if you have lactose intolerance?
At first your health care provider may tell you if you should stop eating or drinking foods with lactose to see if the symptoms go away. If your symptoms go away, your health care provider may tell you that you have lactose intolerance. A hydrogen breath test can be done to confirm this diagnosis. The hydrogen breath test is done while you breathe into a machine that measures the amount of hydrogen in your breath 60 minutes after you drink lactose. If you are intolerante to lactose, your body will produce more hydrogen than if you are tolerant to lactose.
Can some people be more lactose intolerant than others?
Yes. There are different degrees of lactose intolerance. For example, some people can drink a cup of milk without symptoms but have problems if they drink 1 cup, while other people may have difficulty drinking small amounts of milk. Over time you will learn how much milk or other dairy products you can consume without symptoms.
Are there different types of lactose intolerance?
Yes. Some people are born without the ability to make lactase. This condition is called primary lactose intolerance. People with this type of lactose intolerance have the most difficulty drinking or eating foods that contain lactose. Many people become lactose intolerant as they age.
Some people become lactose intolerant after having surgery or a gastrointestinal infection. Lactose intolerance can also be caused by malnutrition or taking certain medications. Secondary lactose intolerance is another name for this type of lactose intolerance. Secondary lactose intolerance usually goes away after 2 to 4 weeks.
Will I always be lactose intolerant?
If you become lactose intolerant due to illness or medication, you probably won't be lactose intolerant forever. If you were born lactose intolerant or have more trouble digesting dairy products than when you were younger, you may always have some degree of lactose intolerance.
What can I do if I have lactose intolerance?
If your health care provider has told you that you have lactose intolerance, there are several things you can do to avoid gas, bloating, stomach pain or cramps, or diarrhea after eating foods that contain lactose. lactose.
- Try these helpful tips:
- Know the foods that contain lactose. Lactose is in most dairy products, some baked and processed foods like bread, dry cereal, candy, cookies, salad dressing, soups made with milk, drink mixes, and prepared foods like pizza and lasagna.
- Pay attention to food labels. Ingredients are listed on food labels in order of how much they are in the food. Ingredients found in larger quantities are written first on the list, while those found in smaller quantities are found at the bottom of the list. For example, if milk is listed first, you know that product contains mostly milk. If you are lactose intolerant you may want to avoid eating it or eat it in small amounts.
- Start with small portions of dairy products. If you can tolerate small portions, perhaps you will be able to add more dairy products little by little. By slowly adding dairy products, you will be able to find out how much lactose your body can handle.
- Enjoy dairy products with non-dairy products. Combining dairy products with other foods decreases the way lactose enters your body. This makes it easier for your body to digest and break down the lactose.
- Eat small amounts of milk and milk products more often. Instead of drinking services complete (1 cup or 8 ounces), try to drink more services small (1/2 cup or 4 ounces) throughout the day.
- Eat dairy products that are naturally low in lactose. Cheese and yogurt generally contain less lactose than milk. This is because lactose is partially broken down during the process these products are made.
What if these suggestions don't help me?
If you still feel discomfort after trying these ideas, you can try a lactose supplement, such as Lactaid or a generic brand, before eating dairy foods. You can buy a lactose supplement as a pill or liquid drops to add to milk. The supplement can be purchased without a prescription and can help your body break down lactose in the foods you eat or drink. You can also enjoy milk and ice cream that are lactose-free like Lactaid® milk and Lactaid® ice cream.
What else do I need to know?
- Learn about the secret ingredients that contain lactose. These ingredients include milk solids (including nonfat milk solids), buttermilk, lactose, malted milk, sour or sweet cream, margarine, whey, whey concentrate, milk protein (whey protein concentrate), and cheese. Remember that baked and processed foods like cakes and cookies also contain lactose. Check food labels!
- Some medicines contain lactose. Ask your doctor if there is lactose in any medications you may be taking, and read the label as well.
| If you are lactose intolerant, you will probably need to eliminate milk and dairy products from your diet. These foods provide calcium and other important nutrients for your body. Learning more about foods and drinks that contain lactose and reading food labels will help you try new ways to enjoy foods that contain lactose. As you slowly try different foods, you will discover ways to tolerate lactose without feel uncomfortable. Press on recipes to get creative ideas for meals and snacks. |
Although milk and milk products are the only natural sources, lactose is often added to prepared foods. People with very low lactose tolerance should be aware of the different food products that may contain it even in small amounts. Among these products are:
Bread and other bakery products breakfast cereals
Instant Potatoes, Soups, and Breakfast Drinks
Margarine
Deli meats (not kosher)
Salad dressings
Candy and other snacks
Mixes for preparing pancakes (pancakes) biscuits and cookies
Some products labeled non-dairy may also contain milk derivatives and therefore lactose.
Read food labels carefully, looking not only for milk and lactose, but also for words like whey, curd, milk derivatives, milk solids, and nonfat dry milk. If any of these appear on a label, the product contains lactose.
In addition, lactose is used as a base for more than 20 percent of prescription drugs and in approximately 65 percent of over-the-counter medications. Many types of birth control pills, for example, contain lactose, as do stomach acid and gas tablets. However, these products generally only affect people with severe lactose intolerance.
What can I eat that does not contain milk?
You can find some ideas at:
The Milk Free kitchen: Living well without dairy products: 450 family-style recipes.
Kidder, B. New York: Henry Holt and Company, 1991. Cookbook with 450 lactose-free recipes.
Source: National Chamber of Information on Digestive Diseases