About Lactose Intolerance

Lactose intolerance is the impaired ability to digest lactose (milk sugar).

Lactose is a sugar naturally found in milk and is sometimes referred to as "milk sugar".   It is digested by an enzyme called "lactase", which is found in the small intestines of most people.

However, many people don't produce enough lactase to adequately digest milk sugar. These individuals are " intolerant" to milk sugar.

How Common Is Lactose Intolerance?

More than 50 million Americans are lactose intolerant.

Nearly two-thirds of the world's adult population has some degree of difficulty with digestion of milk sugar because of a lactase deficiency:

• 97-100% of African Blacks
• 90-100% of Asians
• 70-75% of North American Blacks
• 70-80% of Mexicans
• 60-90% of Mediterraneans
• 60-80% of Jewish descent
• 10-12% of Middle Europeans
• 7-15% of North American Caucasians
• 1-5% of Northern Europeans

Lactose Intolerance Symptoms

The most common lactose intolerance symptoms are:

• Intestinal cramps or discomfort
• Gas
• Bloating
• Diarrhea

One study has suggested that women with lactose intolerance are more likely to have depression or PMS (premenstrual syndrome).

Lactose intolerance symptoms are almost identical with symptoms of other chronic disorders such as irritable bowel syndrome or celiac disease. Studies show that as many as 70% of lactose intolerant people don't link their symptoms to consumption of milk sugar.

So it's possible that you may actually have lactose intolerance instead of "indigestion" or "irritable bowel".

Lactose Intolerance In Babies

Lactose or milk sugar intolerance is not commonly observed in infants (although they may have an allergy to milk proteins).

The lactase enzyme reaches its maximum level in the human intestine soon after birth and declines after age 3 ½, so symptoms of insufficient lactase may not begin to show up until after this age.

Symptoms of Baby Lactose Intolerance

If your baby has any of the following symptoms, he or she may have lactose intolerance, although a milk allergy is more probable.

• Colic
• Crying
• Spitting up (reflux)
• Gas
• Loose stools
• Eczema
• Ear infections

Why Lactose Intolerance Is a Serious Health Problem

Inability to digest and absorb lactose leads to irritation of the lining of the intestines. This irritation in turn leads to a weakened digestive system that exposes you to future systemic disorders.

In addition to an inability to absorb needed nutrients, a weakened digestive system is more susceptible to attack by parasites, yeast and pathogenic bacteria, which worsens the problems in your intestines and exposes you to chronic disease.

The inability to digest lactose may also be just the tip of the iceberg. Lactose intolerant people often have other problems that indicate the presence of a dairy allergy, not just a lactose intolerance.

Lactose Intolerance Is Not a Milk Allergy - But Is Easily Confused with Milk Allergy

Lactose intolerance is your intestine's reaction to milk sugar. A milk allergy is a systemic immune reaction against milk proteins.  Some symptoms of milk allergy can be similar to lactose intolerance symptoms.

If you have any of the symptoms listed above, you could have lactose intolerance, a milk allergy, or both.

How Is Lactose Intolerance Diagnosed?

A simple self-test for lactose intolerance is to drink at least two 8-ounce glasses of milk on an empty stomach and note any intestinal symptoms that develop in the next four hours. The test should then be repeated using several ounces of cheese (which does not contain much lactose).

If you get symptoms from milk but not cheese, then you probably have lactose intolerance. If symptoms occur with both milk and cheese, you may be allergic to dairy products.   However, this self-test is not conclusive because you may unknowingly be consuming lactose. Lactose is "hidden" in hundreds of food products and medications.

The Breath Hydrogen Test

The best way to find out if you are lactose intolerant is to get a breath hydrogen test, which is available through your doctor, or our clinic. This test is simple to do and is relatively accurate. It is the "gold standard" for detecting lactose intolerance.

With the breath hydrogen test, you fast overnight, eat a dose of lactose in the morning and collect breath samples at timed intervals. If the lactose isn't broken down by the lactase enzyme in the small intestine, it travels to the colon and undergoes bacterial fermentation.

Due to fermentation, hydrogen levels in your breath will rise within 1-2 hours.

How Is Lactose Intolerance Treated?

Lactose Avoidance

The most effective treatment is to avoid foods and medications that contain lactose, primarily milk and milk products. However, some people who are lactose intolerant are also intolerant of other sugars, such as table sugar. So, besides avoiding lactose-containing foods, you may also need to avoid foods containing other sugars and certain carbohydrates.

People have differing levels of the lactase enzyme, and there are differing levels of lactose in dairy products - so it's possible that you can consume some dairy. Milk, ice cream and yogurt contain quite a bit of lactose.

However, fermented dairy products that contain lactose - such as yogurt and kefir - are more easily digested.

In addition, lactose-reduced milk is available in some supermarkets.

Lactase Enzyme Supplementation

You can take lactase enzyme supplements to prevent symptoms when consuming lactose-containing dairy products. Lactase drops may be added to regular milk 24 hours before drinking to reduce lactose levels. Lactase drops, capsules, and tablets may also be taken orally immediately before a meal that has lactose-containing dairy products.

Lactaid and lactaid liquid is one of the popular lactase products.   The degree of lactose intolerance varies by individual, so a greater or lesser amount of oral lactase may be needed to eliminate symptoms of lactose intolerance. Lactase Drops Are Available for Sale Online

Calcium Supplementation

Dairy products are a plentiful source of calcium. If you can't consume diary products, some physicians recommend that you take supplemental calcium.  A typical amount of supplemental calcium would be 1,000 mg per day.

Which Foods Contain Lactose?

Obvious Sources:

All cheeses
Butter, many margarines
Goat's milk
Half-and-half cream
Ice cream and many sherbets
Milk (whole, skim, dry powdered, evaporated)
Yogurt

Hidden Sources

Artificial sweeteners containing lactose
Breads, biscuits and crackers, doughnuts made with milk
Breading on fried foods
Breakfast and baby cereals containing milk solids
Buttered or creamed foods (soups and vegetables)
Cake and pudding mixes, many frostings
Candies with milk chocolate
Cookies made with milk
Hot dogs, luncheon meats, sausage, hash, processed and canned meats
Mayonnaise and salad dressings made with milk
Nondairy creamers (except for Coffee Rich)
Pancakes, waffles, toaster tarts
Pizza
Weight loss products
Many prescription drugs: birth control pills, thyroid medication and medications for gastrointestinal disorders (such as Reglan and Xanax)
Many types of vitamins
Foods containing whey, casein, caseinate, or sodium caseinate