Lactose intolerance is a common digestive problem that affects millions of people worldwide. While it is not a life-threatening condition, it can greatly affect your diet and comfort. If you have ever felt bloated or uncomfortable after enjoying a scoop of ice cream or a glass of milk, lactose intolerance might be the culprit.
In this blog, we are going to understand what lactose intolerance is, what are its causes, symptoms, types, and how you can manage symptoms of lactose intolerance to avoid discomfort caused by this condition.
What is Lactose Intolerance?
Lactose intolerance is when you are unable to fully digest lactose, a type of sugar found in milk and dairy products.
This condition happens when your small intestine does not produce enough lactase, the enzyme responsible for breaking down lactose into simple sugars— glucose and galactose— that can be absorbed by your body.
If you have lactose intolerance you may experience digestive discomfort after consuming dairy products.
It is often confused with food allergy to milk , however these two are quite different conditions. Milk allergy will have symptoms like difficulty breathing, itchy skin, swelling of face, lips, and eyes and is a life-threatening condition, while lactose intolerance is a digestive issue and not a life-threatening condition.
What Causes Lactose Intolerance?
The root cause of lactose intolerance is deficiency of lactase, the enzyme that helps digest lactose. There are different reasons why someone may become lactose intolerant and it can develop at different stages of life. Depending upon the underlying cause, lactose intolerance is divided into different types.
-
Primary Lactose Intolerance (The Most Common Type):
It is the most common type of lactose intolerance and it tends to run in families (hereditary).
People with primary lactose intolerance are born making enough lactase. However, the production of lactase naturally slows down after their childhood, as they grow and start eating other foods.
-
Secondary Lactose Intolerance:
This type is usually triggered by something else like an illness, injury or surgery affecting your small intestines.
Due to these conditions, there can be damage to the lining of the small intestine, where lactase is made, leading to temporary or sometimes long-term lactose intolerance.
Some diseases associated with secondary lactose intolerance include Crohn’s disease, celiac disease, and intestinal infections.
-
Congenital Lactose Intolerance:
This type of lactose intolerance is very rare. Some babies are born with the inability to produce lactase enzymes at all due to a genetic condition. Symptoms usually show up immediately after birth.
This condition is inherited in what’s known as autosomal recessive pattern, which means a child must receive the same gene variant from both parents in order to be affected.
-
Developmental Lactose Intolerance:
Sometimes premature babies haven’t developed the ability to produce lactase yet. But the good news is that this is usually short-term, and those babies often grow out of it as their digestive system matures.
What are the Symptoms of Lactose Intolerance?
If you are lactose intolerant, symptoms usually show up soon after drinking or eating dairy products. Intensity of the symptoms depends on how much lactose you have had and how sensitive your body is. Not everyone reacts the same. Some people can handle a bit of cheese or yoghurt without any issues, while others feel terrible even with a small splash of milk in their coffee.
Common symptoms include:
- Bloating
- Diarrhea
- Gas
- Nausea
- Pain in your tummy (abdomen)
- A gurgling or rumbling tummy
- Vomiting
How is Lactose Intolerance Diagnosed?
To make a diagnosis of lactose intolerance, your doctor will ask you some questions about your past health and family history.
Your doctor may also do a few tests to find out if you’re lactose intolerant:
-
Lactose Elimination Diet:
Sometimes the simplest approach is that your doctor will ask you to cut out all dairy from your diet for some time to see if your symptoms improve.
-
Hydrogen Breath Test:
This is the most commonly used test. You’ll drink a liquid that contains a high amount of lactose, and then your breath will be tested at regular intervals. If your breath has high levels of hydrogen, it means that your body isn’t properly digesting lactose.
-
Lactose Tolerance Test:
This test is to check how well your body absorbs lactose. You’ll need to fast for about 8 hours, usually overnight. During the test you’ll drink a liquid with lactose in it, then your blood samples will be taken over the next 2 hours to check your blood sugar levels. If your blood sugar doesn’t rise much, it could mean that you are lactose intolerant.
-
Stool Acidity Test:
This test checks for acid in the stool and is used for infants and young children. When lactose isn’t digested, it produces lactic acid and other substances that make the stool more acidic. This helps to confirm lactose intolerance in little ones.
How is Lactose Intolerance Managed?
There is no definite treatment yet that can help your body make more lactase. But this doesn’t mean you have to say good-bye to all the dairy products forever. There are a few adjustments that can help you in managing symptoms of lactose intolerance.
1. Watch What You Eat:
One of the easiest changes you can make is switching to lactose-free and lactose-reduced milk and milk products. You can find many lactose-free versions of the most popular dairy items in the market.
Try to use plant based alternatives like almond, soy, oat, or coconut milk. You can also try dairy products that naturally have low levels of lactose such as hard cheese and yoghurt.
Check for labels on food items as other than dairy products lactose can be present in many salad dressings, processed meats, and even some medicines.
2. Figure Out What You Can Tolerate:
You don’t always have to quit dairy completely. Some people can tolerate small amounts of lactose, especially when taken with other foods. Try reintroducing dairy gradually and see how your body responds.
3. Consider Lactase Products:
Talk to your doctor about whether taking lactase pills or lactase drops with dairy products might help ease your symptoms.
4. Treat the Underlying Cause:
Sometimes lactose intolerance can be due to some underlying health issue, such as celiac disease. In such cases, treating the underlying cause may help.
When to See a Doctor:
You should see your doctor if you have lactose intolerance and:
- Your symptoms keep coming back, especially after eating
- You are experiencing changes in your bowel habits like diarrhea, constipation, or needing to go more than usual for 3 weeks
- You have noticed blood in your stool
- You are having bloating and stomach discomfort for 3 weeks
- You have been losing weight without trying
Conclusion:
Lactose intolerance is more common than you think. While it can be a bit of a hassle, it is definitely manageable. The key is paying attention to how your body reacts, reading the labels, and finding out what works best for you. With all the lactose-free options out there today, living comfortably with lactose intolerance is totally doable.
