At the Allergy Free Shop, we not only cater to the specific needs of those with food allergies, but also to those individuals with dietary requirements due to other medical conditions. One of these conditions is Lactose Intolerance, the inability to digest lactose, a sugar found in milk and milk products.
Lactose intolerance is caused by a deficiency of the enzyme lactase, which is produced by the cells lining the small intestine. Lactase breaks down lactose into two simpler forms of sugar called glucose and galactose, which are then absorbed into the bloodstream. Not all individuals with a lactase deficiency have digestive symptoms, but those who do may have lactose intolerance.
People sometimes confuse lactose intolerance with cow milk or dairy allergy. Most individuals with lactose intolerance can tolerate a small amount of lactose in their diet. Milk allergy is a reaction by the body’s immune system to one or more of the proteins found in milk, and can be life-threatening if just a small amount of milk or milk product is consumed. In comparison to milk allergy, which most commonly appears in the first year of life, lactose intolerance occurs more often in adulthood.
Causes of Lactose Intolerance
Lactose intolerance develops from either “Primary” or “Secondary” lactase deficiency. Primary lactase deficiency develops slowly over time and typically begins after age 2, when individual’s body begins to produce less and less lactase. Babies’ bodies make this enzyme so they can digest milk, including breast milk, but before humans became dairy farmers, most people did not continue to drink milk in adulthood so their bodies did not make lactase after early childhood. Most children who have lactase deficiency do not experience major symptoms of lactose intolerance until late adolescence or adulthood.
Researchers believe there is a possible genetic link to those who develop primary lactase deficiency. Some people inherit a gene from their parents that makes it likely they will develop primary lactase deficiency, and this discovery may prove useful in developing genetic tests in the future that can identify people at risk for lactose intolerance.
Secondary lactase deficiency results from an injury to the small intestine, which can occur due to a number of conditions such as severe diarrheal illness, Celiac disease, Crohn’s disease, or chemotherapy treatment. This type of lactase deficiency can occur at any age, but is typically more common during infancy.
Approximately 30 million American adults have some amount of lactose intolerance, and the condition is more prevalent among Asian, African-American, Native American and Mediterranean populations than it is among northern and western Europeans. It also often begins at different ages depending on race. In Caucasians, it usually starts to affect children older than age 5, but in African-Americans lactose intolerance often occurs as early as age 2.
Most children who were born at full-term generally do not show signs of lactose intolerance until they are at least 3 years old, but lactose intolerance is sometimes seen in premature babies. Infants born prematurely are more likely to have lactase deficiency, because an infant’s lactase levels do not increase until the third trimester of pregnancy.
Symptoms and Diagnosis of Lactose Intolerance
It is estimated that 75% of adults worldwide will show some decrease in lactase activity during adulthood. People with lactose intolerance may feel uncomfortable 30 minutes to 2 hours after consuming milk and milk products. Symptoms range from mild to quite severe, based on the amount of lactose consumed and how much the individual can tolerate. Common symptoms include abdominal pain and bloating, excess gas, diarrhea and nausea.
Lactose intolerance can be hard to diagnose based on symptoms alone. People may think they suffer from lactose intolerance because they have digestive symptoms; however, other conditions such as irritable bowel syndrome can cause similar symptoms. After taking a medical history and performing a physical examination, the doctor may first recommend eliminating all milk and milk products from the person’s diet for a short time to see if the symptoms resolve. Tests may be necessary to provide more information.
Two tests are commonly used to measure the digestion of lactose:
Hydrogen Breath Test. For this test, the individual drinks a lactose-loaded beverage and then their breath is analyzed at regular intervals to measure the amount of hydrogen it contains. Normally, very little hydrogen is detectable in the breath, but undigested lactose produces high levels of hydrogen. Some foods and medications may interfere with this test, and your health care provider can let you know what to avoid prior to your loved one’s testing.
Stool Acidity Test. The stool acidity test is used for infants and young children to measure the amount of acid in the stool. Undigested lactose creates lactic acid that can be detected in a stool sample. Glucose may also be present as a result of undigested lactose. Because lactose intolerance is uncommon in children younger than 2 years old, however, a health professional should take special care before determining the cause of a child’s digestive symptoms.
Managing Lactose Intolerance
For persons living in societies where the diet contains relatively little dairy, lactose intolerance is not considered a condition that requires treatment. However, those living among societies that are largely lactose-tolerant and consume many dairy products (including milk, butter, yogurt, cheeses, sour cream, ice cream, some gravies, potato chips, processed meats and other non-dairy uses for lactose as a commercial food additive), may find lactose intolerance troublesome.
The body’s ability to produce lactase cannot be changed, but the symptoms of lactose intolerance can be managed with dietary changes. The amount of dietary change needed in the diet depends on how much lactose the person can consume without symptoms.
One person may experience severe symptoms after drinking a small glass of milk, while someone else can drink a larger glass without symptoms. Others can consume products with lower levels of lactose than regular milk, such as yogurt and hard cheeses such as cheddar and Swiss.radually introducing small amounts of milk products, or consuming them with meals, may help some people adapt with fewer symptoms. For others, a strict avoidance diet may be the only option.
There are numerous milk substitutes that the lactose intolerant can enjoy, such as our Almond Breeze Original Beverage and Vance’S Foods Darifree Chocolate beverage. Parents and caregivers of a child with lactose intolerance should follow the nutrition plan recommended by their child’s doctor or dietitian
Lactose Intolerance and Calcium Intake
Milk products are a major source of calcium and other nutrients. Calcium is essential for the growth and repair of bones at all ages. And although the amount of calcium an individual needs to maintain good health varies by age, a shortage of calcium intake in children and adults may lead to osteoporosis, or fragile bones that can easily fracture later in life. Our Freeda Chewable Calcium and Magnesium supplement can help provide these vital nutrients.
By becoming educated about what products contain lactose, reading labels and a little dietary planning, you or your loved ones can avoid future reactions to dairy and lactose, with the help of over 723 products in stock at the Allergy Free Shop which are dairy free!
