Lactose Intolerance Disease

Alternative name : Lactase Deficiency
What is Lactose Intolerance?
Lactose intolerance is the inability to digest lactose (present in milk sugar and dairy products). Normally when you eat something containing lactose, the body produces an enzyme called lactase in the small intestine. Lactase breaks down lactose into simpler sugar forms called glucose and galactose, which are then easily absorbed into the bloodstream and turned into energy - fuel for our bodies. If lactose is not absorbed properly, it ferments and this results in abdominal pain, a bloated stomach and diarrhea .

Lactase is normally produced in the small intestine where it breaks lactose down into a form that can be absorbed by the blood. A lack of lactase can cause uncomfortable symptoms for some people. Those who do exhibit the symptoms are said to be lactose intolerant.

Thirty to 50 million Americans (adults and children) are lactose intolerant. The disorder affects some populations more than others:

Seventy-five percent of all African-Americans and Native Americans are lactose intolerant.
Ninety percent of Asian-Americans are lactose intolerant.
Lactose intolerance is least common among people with a northern European heritage.

What are the symptoms of lactose intolerance?
Although far less common, lactose intolerance can occur in children as well as adults. In infants, lactose intolerance can occur after a severe bout of gastroenteritis, which damages the intestinal lining. Symptoms usually begin between thirty minutes and two hours after consumption of dairy foods. Symptoms of lactose intolerance in an infant can include foamy diarrhea with diaper rash, slow weight gain and development, nausea and vomiting. The severity of symptoms varies depending on the amount of lactose each individual can tolerate.

What causes lactose intolerance?
Lactose is a disaccharide, which means that it is composed of two other sugars bound together. In order for lactose to be absorbed, it must be split into those two smaller sugars. This split is performed by an enzyme called lactase, an enzyme manufactured in the small intestine that splits lactose into glucose and galactose. When a person with lactose intolerance consumes milk or other dairy products, some or all of the lactose they contain remains undigested, retains fluid, and ferments in the colon, resulting in abdominal cramps, bloating, diarrhea, and gas.

How is lactose intolerance diagnosed?
The most common diagnostic tests (performed on an outpatient basis at a hospital, clinic, or physician's office) used to measure the absorption of lactose in the digestive system include the following:

lactose tolerance test
This test measures the absorption of lactose in the digestive system. Beginning with fasting before the test and then drinking a liquid that contains lactose, several blood samples are taken over a two-hour period to measure the person's blood glucose (blood sugar) level. The blood glucose test indicates how well the body is able to digest lactose.
hydrogen breath test
The patient drinks a lactose-heavy beverage, and the breath is analyzed at regular intervals to measure the amount of hydrogen. Undigested lactose in the colon is fermented by bacteria, resulting in the production of various gases, including hydrogen. When high levels of hydrogen are present in the breath, improper digestion of lactose is diagnosed.

Treatment for lactose intolerance
Here are some home remedies for dealing with lactose intolerance:

Include yogurt in your diet. Yogurt is the one dairy product that can be good for a person with lactose intolerance. The cultures present in yogurt digest the lactose it contains, so it is no longer a problem. They also aid in overall digestion. Be sure to eat only yogurt that contains active live yogurt cultures. Homemade yogurt is best.
Eat a variety of dairy-free foods that are rich in calcium, such as leafy greens (like spinach, brussels sprouts, or broccoli).
Be sure to eat plenty of foods that are high in calcium. Good choices include apricots, blackstrap molasses, broccoli, collard greens, dried figs, kale, calcium-fortified orange juice, rhubarb, salmon, sardines, spinach, tofu, and yogurt. Calcium supplements may be beneficial.
If you are pregnant and have a family history of lactose intolerance, give serious consideration to breastfeeding your baby. If that is not possible, choose a nondairy baby formula, such as a soy-based product.

Foods that contain lactose

Chocolate.
Bread and other baked goods.
Milk, butter, margarine, fermented milk products.
Cheese.
Ice cream.

Is lactose intolerance contagious?
Lactose intolerance is not contagious. These disorders are not transmitted from a person to another, nor are they transmitted through any other media (e.g., bacteria, viruses, animals).

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If you are Lactose Intolerant - What to Eat

drink smaller quantities of milk at one time
drink milk with meals
use Lactaid (an enzyme to help digest lactose in dairy) every time when you eat dairy
use special milk products such as Lacteeze or other "Lactose-free milk" in which the lactose is reduced by 99%. Some "lactose-reduced" milk products have lactose partially reduced- so be sure to read the labels
For infants with lactose intolerance, try Lactose-free infant formulas
try calcium-fortified soy milk to ensure adequate calcium intake
also try calcium-fortified orange juice if you are concerned about calcium
some dairy products are naturally low in lactose such as swiss cheese and cottage cheese
many commercial products contain lactose. If the ingredient list contains the following ingredients, it has lactose. Ingredients include whey, curds, milk by-products, dry milk solids, and nonfat dry milk powder

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Lactose Intolerance - Causes, Symptoms And Treatment