Lactose is a complex sugar found in highest concentrations in milk and milk products. Lactose intolerance is characterized by a person's inability to digest lactose. Those with lactose intolerance may not be able to tolerate yogurt, which often contains significant amounts of lactose.
Lactose Digestion
In healthy individuals, the cells in the small intestine produce an enzyme called lactase. Lactase attaches to the sugar molecule, lactose, and digests it into the simple sugars glucose and galactose. These simple sugars can be absorbed into the bloodstream, whereas lactose cannot. If you are lactose intolerant, your small intestines do not produce enough lactase. Because of this, lactose travels through the digestive system without being digested into simple sugars. It reaches the colon it its full form, where it is attacked by the intestinal bacteria that normally live in the colon. The bacteria begin to feed on the lactose, which causes the symptoms that are normally associated with lactose intolerance.
Symptoms
When someone with lactose intolerance consumes yogurt, which contains lactose, it can cause a variety of uncomfortable gastrointestinal symptoms. These symptoms may include diarrhea, nausea, vomiting, abdominal cramps, bloating and gas. According to MayoClinic.com, symptoms usually develop from 30 minutes to two hours after the consumption of yogurt and can range from mild to severe, depending on the degree of lactose intolerance.
Types
There are three main types of lactose intolerance: primary, secondary and congential. Primary lactose intolerance occurs as a natural result of aging. As a person ages, the body gradually decreases its production of lactase until some people become lactose intolerant. It is unclear why some people develop primary lactose intolerance and others do not. Secondary lactose intolerance occurs as a result of another illness or condition that causes a decreased production of lactase. Common causes of secondary lactose intolerance include surgery, infection, celiac disease and Crohn's disease. Congenital lactose intolerance affects people from birth.
Treatment
The only way to completely avoid symptoms of lactose intolerance is to stop eating foods that contain lactose, such as yogurt. Some people may be able to tolerate yogurt if they consume a synthetic lactase with the yogurt. There is no way to cure lactose intolerance or increase the production of lactase in the body.
Considerations
Every case of lactose intolerance is different. Some people may be severely intolerant to lactose, whereas others only experience mild symptoms. The National Digestive Diseases Information Clearinghouse notes some people with mild lactose intolerances are able to tolerant small amounts of lactose. Because of this, the consumption of yogurt may not cause symptoms in everyone who is lactose intolerant.
