About 50 million adults in the United States have lactose intolerance, the American Gastroenterological Association says. This condition is caused by a lack of lactase in your body, an enzyme that breaks down the lactose sugar in dairy. Experts think genetics might play a role in lactose intolerance, but you can also develop secondary lactose intolerance from diseases like celiac and Crohn's, or from chemotherapy. Not everyone with a lack of lactase develops lactose intolerance, and some people think they have lactose intolerance when they really have an allergy to cow's milk. Symptoms of this condition are digestive problems, including cramps, diarrhea, gas, bloating and nausea. There is no cure for your body not making enough lactase, but over-the-counter medications exist to control your lactose intolerance.
Tablets
You can purchase tablets with lactase in them that help your body break down the lactose in the food you eat. These work by taking one to three tablets before you eat a dairy product. This method is meant to be used with solid foods that have dairy in them, instead of for drinking milk. However, not all people who suffer from lactose intolerance find relief with these tablets.
Liquid
The lactase enzyme is also available in liquid form, which is the form meant to help you drink milk. You add a few drops of the enzyme to milk before drinking it, which supposedly breaks down some of the lactose in the milk while it's still in the carton. Like the tablets, the liquid enzyme does not help all people with lactose intolerance.
Probiotics
The use of probiotics for lactose intolerance is an alternative treatment. These substances are living organisms that are naturally found in your intestines. You can find them in supplements and also in many types of yogurt. They are thought to help your digestive system break down lactose and to ease symptoms of lactose intolerance. Talk to your doctor before using probiotics.
Lactose-free Dairy Products
To serve a growing population of people with lactose intolerance, companies have created dairy products that do not contain lactose or have less lactose than the regular kind. The lactase enzyme has already been added to these products instead of you adding it separately or taking it in a pill.
Lifestyle Changes
If you do not want to take the lactase enzyme or probiotics, or they do not help you, you can often prevent lactose intolerance flare-ups through dietary changes. Reduce the amount of dairy you consume although your body still might be able to handle a small amount. Everybody is different in this case, so you will need to experiment to see how much your body can take. Some dairy products, like yogurt and hard cheese, contain less lactose than milk. The National Digestive Diseases Information Clearinghouse recommends trying these dietary changes before using the lactase products.
