Got belly pain? It could be a reaction to too much milk sugar in your diet, a condition known as lactose or milk intolerance. Although the digestive symptoms associated with lactose intolerance can be distressing and uncomfortable, the condition is not life threatening. If you have difficulty tolerating milk and dairy products, supplemental lactase and changes in your dietary habits can reduce or eliminate the symptoms.
What It Is
All milk and milk products contain the sugar lactose. Your small bowel produces a protein called lactase, which digests lactose into smaller sugar molecules that are absorbed into your bloodstream. If the amount of milk sugar in your diet exceeds your level of lactase production, the excess lactose passes through your intestines undigested and unabsorbed. The undigested milk sugar causes bloating, excess gas, belly pain and diarrhea --- the classic symptoms of milk or lactose intolerance.
What It Is Not
Lactose intolerance is a digestive problem caused by a lactase deficiency. It is not an allergic reaction. The distinction between milk allergy and intolerance is important, because milk allergy can be potentially life threatening. Talk with your doctor if you are uncertain about whether you have a milk allergy or lactose intolerance.
Primary Lactose Intolerance
The most common form of milk intolerance is primary lactose intolerance, also known as primary lactase deficiency. With this condition, your small bowel has the genetic capacity to produce the enzyme lactase, but production is often insufficient to meet digestive demands. Symptoms occur if you eat more milk sugar than your bowel can digest. The amount of lactose that can be tolerated without symptoms varies from person to person. Symptoms of primary lactase deficiency may develop during childhood or adolescence but most often become noticeable during your adult years.
Secondary Lactose Intolerance
Certain types of medical conditions can cause milk intolerance, which may be temporary or chronic. This form of milk intolerance, known as secondary lactose intolerance, may occur if you have celiac or inflammatory bowel disease, severe gastroenteritis or an intestinal infection. You may also develop secondary lactose intolerance if you are undergoing cancer treatment with chemotherapy drugs or radiation to your abdomen.
Treatment
The treatment for lactose intolerance depends on the severity of the condition. If you have a mild milk intolerance, limiting the amount milk and dairy products in your diet may suffice to alleviate your symptoms. You may find taking lactase tablets before eating a meal or snack containing dairy foods is a better option for you. Several lactose-free dairy products are also available to enable you to enjoy these foods without the development of digestive symptoms. Talk with your health care provider if you suspect you may have milk intolerance and have ongoing digestive symptoms. It is important to make sure a more serious medical condition is not causing your symptoms.
References
- National Institutes of Health: Lactose Intolerance: Information for Health Care Providers
- National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases: Lactose Intolerance
- American Gastroenterological Association: Lactose Intolerance
- MedlinePlus: Lactose Intolerance
- Food Reactions: A Comprehensive Guide to Lactose Intolerance
