Lactose Intolerance Symptoms

Lactose intolerance, which is also known as lactase deficiency, is a condition wherein the person afflicted with it is unable digest the lactose, or the milk sugar, in dairy foods fully. Although it is not a generally dangerous condition, however, lactose intolerance symptoms can often be so uncomfortable that it makes people who experience it avoid dairy products completely.

The problem that underlies lactose intolerance is the deficiency of lactase, which is an enzyme that is produced in the small intestines. Lactase helps in breaking down lactose into galactose and glucose, two simpler types of sugar, in order for it to be absorbed into the bloodstream. A lactase deficiency results in milk sugar not being broken down and absorbed.

Sometimes, when people think that they are intolerant to lactose, they actually may not have an impairment in their ability to digest lactose. Also, not everybody with low lactase levels has lactose intolerance. It is only those people who have low levels of lactase and also have the symptoms who are regarded as having lactose intolerance.

About 30-50 million people in America are diagnosed as afflicted with lactose intolerance. And it has been found that certain racial and ethnic populations are more susceptible to this condition. For example, about 90-100% Asian Americans, 80-100% American Indians, and 80% African Americans have lactose intolerance.

Premature babies also have higher chances of being lactose intolerant, since lactase levels only increase at the third trimester of the pregnancy in a woman.

The Causes of Lactose Intolerance

Primary Lactase Deficiency: This is a condition which develops over a period of time. After around two years of age the body starts producing lower amounts of lactase, although most people will usually not notice the symptoms.

Secondary Lactase Deficiency: This condition comes about due to the small intestines being afflicted by certain diseases of the digestive system or by it being injured, which results in the reduction of the amount of lactase produced in the body. Some of these diseases are: Crohn’s disease, inflammatory bowel disease, and celiac disease.

Genetic Factors for Lactase Deficiency: A genetic link has also been found as another cause of lactose intolerance. Some people have a higher probability of developing primary lactase deficiency since they inherit it genetically from their parents.

Lactose Intolerance Symptoms

Those who have a deficiency of lactase often feel very uneasy once they consume milk products. Some of the most common lactose intolerance symptoms, which can range from being mild to being extremely severe, are diarrhea, gas, bloating, cramps, and nausea. These lactose intolerance symptoms can start about half an hour to two hours after consuming foods that contain lactose.

The severity of these lactose intolerance symptoms can depend on various factors, such as the rate of digestion in a person, the ethnicity of the person, the age of the person, and the capacity of the person to tolerate lactose. The severity of the lactose intolerance symptoms is not associated with the degree of the malabsorption of lactose. Rather, the symptoms are related to a range of factors such as how fast food is digested, age, and ethnicity.

If you experience the signs of lactose intolerance symptoms, you need to consult your doctor. It is better not to diagnose it yourself, since these can also be indicative of other diseases. Your doctor will be able to help in determining whether you do indeed have lactose intolerance or some other condition, and then devise a treatment plan.