Lactose, also referred to as milk sugar, is the main carbohydrate in milk and milk products. Children who are lactose intolerant cannot properly digest lactose, and as a result, experience a variety of uncomfortable symptoms, such as stomachaches after the consumption of dairy products. According to "Nutrition and You" by Joan Salge Blake, approximately 25 percent of Americans experience some degree of lactose intolerance.
Physiology
Normally, when you consume milk or milk products, such as yogurt and cheese, an enzyme called lactase breaks down the milk sugar lactose into two simple sugars, galactose and glucose, which are more easily digested by the body. A child who is lactose intolerant lacks sufficient amounts of the enzyme lactase to break down lactose. As a result, lactose moves through his digestive system in its full form. When the lactose reaches the bacteria that normally live in the child's colon, the bacteria feed on the lactose, fermenting it. This fermentation process causes the uncomfortable symptoms associated with lactose intolerance.
Symptoms
One of the most common symptoms of lactose intolerance in children is stomachaches. These stomachaches occur as a result of the excess gas and flatulence that is produced when the bacteria feed on the lactose. Lactose also draws excess water into the colon when it moves through the digestive tract, which causes diarrhea as well as stomachaches. Many children with lactose intolerance also experience nausea. According to MayoClinic.com, symptoms are usually mild to moderate, but some children with an extreme sensitivity to lactose may experience severe symptoms.
Causes
Most cases of lactose intolerance develop as a result of the normal aging process. As a child increases in age, the production of lactase in the body naturally decreases. "Nutrition and You" by Joan Salge Blake notes that the decreased lactase production begins immediately after a child stops nursing. Some children may develop lactose intolerance as a result of another illness, such as celiac disease and gastroenteritis, or surgery. This type of lactose intolerance is called secondary lactose intolerance. In rare cases, a child is born without the ability to make the enzyme lactase.
Treatment
It is not possible to increase a child's production of lactase. The only way to completely avoid symptoms is to remove milk and milk products from the diet. It is important to note that not all cases of lactose intolerance are the same, however. Some children may be able to tolerate some milk products more easily than others. If all milk products must be removed, other sources of calcium, such as broccoli, kale and fortified orange juice should be increased in the diet.
References
- MayoClinic.com: Lactose Intolerance
- National Digestive Diseases Information Clearinghouse: Lactose Intolerance
- "Nutrition and You"; Joan Salge Blake; 2008
