Lactose Intolerance is Usually Permenant in Some Adults

Lactose intolerance commonly develops after adolescence. It is estimated that between 30 and 50 million Americans are lactose intolerant.

Certain ethnic and racial populations are more widely affected than others. As many as 75 percent of all African Americans and American Indians and 90 percent of Asian Americans are lactose intolerant. The condition is least common among persons of northern European descent.

Lactose is a natural sugar found in milk and dairy products. Lactose intolerance means inability to digest lactose. This inability results from a shortage of the enzyme lactase, which is normally produced by the cells that line the small intestine.

Function of lactase is to break down milk sugar into simpler forms that can then be absorbed into the bloodstream. Lactose is broken down in the intestine by lactase to glucose and galactose. These simple sugars are easily absorbed through the intestinal wall and enter the blood stream to be transported to the liver. Galactose is further broken down in the liver into glucose.

At birth large amount of lactase may be present in the intestine. But as the child grows the level of lactase may fall and by adolescence the level may be low enough that the milk can no longer be digested.

Lactase deficiency may be congenital. Or the deficiency may be acquired. It may occur temporarily after a bout of gastroenteritis. Certain digestive diseases and injuries to the small intestine can reduce the amount of enzymes produced. But for most people, lactase deficiency is a condition that develops naturally over time.

Absence of lactase will make lactose ferment in the intestine and cause symptoms.
Common symptoms include nausea, cramps, bloating, gas, and diarrhea. The severity of symptoms varies depending on the amount of lactose each individual can tolerate.

Most individuals will be diagnosed by the typical symptoms they experience. You may be asked to keep a diary for few days of what you eat and the symptoms you get. You may be advised to completely quit dairy products and see if the symptoms disappear. Then you will be asked to go back on the dairy products. If the symptoms reappear then the diagnosis is confirmed.

The most common tests used to measure the absorption of lactose in the digestive system are the lactose tolerance test, the hydrogen breath test, and the stool acidity test.

Lactose intolerance is usually permanent in adults. The symptoms can be completely relieved by eliminating lactose from the diet by avoiding milk and milk products. Others can use lactase liquid or tablets to help digest the lactose. Other option would be to drink lactose-reduced milk available at supermarkets. This milk contains all the nutrients found in regular milk.

Milk is an important source of calcium in our diet. We need calcium for growth and repair of bones. If milk and milk products are avoided then consult your dietitian or physician to suggest other sources of calcium for your body.

Although lactose intolerance is widespread, it does not pose serious threat to our health.

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Lactose Intolerance

Dear Dr. B: I have chronic diarrhea. Is it possible that I may have lactose intolerance?

Answer: Many conditions can cause diarrhea. It can be acute or chronic in nature.

Acute diarrhea is more likely to be the result of a viral illness such as infection with rotavirus, adenovirus, or astrovirus. Bacterial or parasitic infection can also cause acute diarrhea. These may be contracted from exposure to contaminated water and food.

Chronic diarrhea can result from malabsorption, food allergy, celiac disease, bacterial overgrowth, lactose intolerance, chronic Giardia infection, short-bowel syndrome, inflammatory bowel disease, malignancy and irritable bowel syndrome.

Lactose intolerance is a condition where a person has inability to digest lactose, the natural sugar found in milk. Normally, the enzyme lactase breaks down lactose in the intestines to form the sugars glucose and galactose, which are easily absorbed through the intestinal wall.

Persons with lactose intolerance are unable to digest significant amounts of lactose because of a genetically inadequate amount of the enzyme lactase. As a result, the lactose remains undigested in the intestines and causes abdominal pain, diarrhea, bloating and excessive flatus.

The condition most commonly develops in adolescence and adulthood. It is more common in non-Caucasians than in Caucasians. It is present in up to 15 percent of persons of northern European descent, up to 80 percent of blacks and Latinos, and up to 100 percent of American Indians and Asians.

A diagnosis of lactose intolerance is usually not too difficult. It can usually be made with a careful history supported by dietary changes. If necessary, diagnosis can be confirmed by using a breath hydrogen or lactose tolerance test.

Individuals with chronic diarrhea believe they are lactose intolerant but do not actually have impaired lactose digestion, and some persons with lactase deficiency can tolerate moderate amounts of lactose, up to 250 mls. of milk daily without symptoms.

Lactose intolerance is usually a permanent condition. Treatment consists primarily of avoiding lactose-containing foods. Lactase enzyme supplements can be helpful. If one has to go off milk and milk products completely then one must maintain adequate body calcium balance by taking oral calcium supplements.

Question of the week:
What is the difference between a nice guy and a good guy?

According to 83 years-old Jack Fleck (1955 U.S. Open golf champion), nice guys are pleasant outwardly, but they’re looking for how situations can benefit them. Good guys give of themselves, no questions asked.

A thought for the week for the new graduates:
“Having an education is no excuse for not using your head”.
-from Musings by Dennis van Westerborg, a local artist and writer.

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Lactose Intolerance

Dear Dr. B: I have been told I am lactose intolerant. What does that mean? How did I get the problem? What can I do about it? What is my prognosis?

Answer: Lactose is a natural sugar found in milk and dairy products. Lactose intolerance means inability to digest lactose. This inability results from a shortage of the enzyme lactase, which is normally produced by the cells that line the small intestine.

Function of lactase is to break down milk sugar into simpler forms that can then be absorbed into the bloodstream. Lactose is broken down in the intestine by lactase to glucose and galactose. These simple sugars are easily absorbed through the intestinal wall and enter the blood stream to be transported to the liver. Galactose is further broken down in the liver into glucose.

Lactose intolerance commonly develops after adolescence. It is more common in certain ethnic groups. Information obtained from the internet suggests that between 30 and 50 million Americans are lactose intolerant.

Certain ethnic and racial populations are more widely affected than others. As many as 75 percent of all African Americans and American Indians and 90 percent of Asian Americans are lactose intolerant. The condition is least common among persons of northern European descent.

Medical literature says that at birth large amount of lactase may be present in the intestine. But as the child grows the level of lactase may fall and by adolescence the level may be low enough that the milk can no longer be digested.

Lactase deficiency may be congenital. Or the deficiency may be acquired. It may occur temporarily after a bout of gastroenteritis. Certain digestive diseases and injuries to the small intestine can reduce the amount of enzymes produced. But for most people, lactase deficiency is a condition that develops naturally over time.

Absence of lactase will make lactose ferment in the intestine and cause symptoms.
Common symptoms include nausea, cramps, bloating, gas, and diarrhea. The severity of symptoms varies depending on the amount of lactose each individual can tolerate.

Most individuals will be diagnosed by the typical symptoms they experience. You may be asked to keep a diary for few days of what you eat and the symptoms you get. You may be advised to completely quit dairy products and see if the symptoms disappear. Then you will be asked to go back on the dairy products. If the symptoms reappear then the diagnosis is confirmed

The most common tests used to measure the absorption of lactose in the digestive system are the lactose tolerance test, the hydrogen breath test, and the stool acidity test.

Lactose intolerance is usually permanent in adults. The symptoms can be completely relieved by eliminating lactose from the diet by avoiding milk and milk products. Others can use lactase liquid or tablets to help digest the lactose. Other option would be to drink lactose-reduced milk available at supermarkets. This milk contains all the nutrients found in regular milk.

Milk is an important source of calcium in our diet. We need calcium for growth and repair of bones. If milk and milk products are avoided then consult your dietitian or physician to suggest other sources of calcium for your body.

Although lactose intolerance is widespread, it does not pose serious threat to our health.

Start reading the preview of my book A Doctor's Journey for free on Amazon. Available on Kindle for $2.99!