Lactose is a form of sugar that your body can break down and use as energy. Lactase is an enzyme produced by the body that acts upon the lactose compound and divides it into two simple sugars called glucose and galactose. These simple sugars are then absorbed by the body and used for energy. Without lactase, your body is unable to process lactose, and this can lead to a disease called lactose intolerance.
Abdominal Pain
One of the most common effects of lactose intolerance is abdominal pain. If you suffer from lactose intolerance, you may experience mild to severe stomach cramping 30 minutes to 2 hours after ingesting lactose-containing foods. The intensity of the cramping pain depends on how much lactose you ingested and the severity of your lactose intolerance.
Nausea
Nausea is an effect seen in patients suffering from lactose intolerance. Though usually mild, the nausea you experience can quickly worsen if you continue to take in large amounts of lactose. In severe cases, the nausea may cause vomiting. The nausea will begin to disappear as you stop consuming lactose and as your body slowly eliminates the lactose you have already ingested.
Malnutrition
In rare cases, lactose intolerance can lead to malnutrition. Infants are rarely affected by lactose intolerance, but if a newborn suffers from the condition then malnutrition may develop. Lactose intolerance can also cause malnutrition in any patient who has a diet that mostly consists of lactose. In order to counteract any nutritional deficiencies in these patients, lactose should be replaced with simple sugars such as glucose.
Diarrhea
Diarrhea is a potential effect of lactose intolerance. If you are lactose intolerant, any lactose you take in will stay trapped within your intestines. This causes the sugar to build up in the lumen of your intestines. This excess sugar causes water to leave the cells of the intestine and flow into the lumen. The combination of excess sugar and water in your intestines can cause mild to moderate diarrhea within a few hours after consuming lactose.
Abdominal Bloating and Flatulence
If you are lactose intolerant, you may develop high levels of lactose within your intestinal tract after eating a meal containing lactose. Though you cannot metabolize lactose, normal bacteria within your digestive tract can. In the process of breaking down lactose, these bacteria produce large amounts of gas. This gas can cause the abdominal bloating and increased flatulence often associated with lactose intolerance.
