Lactose intolerance is a condition that prevents people from consuming foods with lactose, including dairy products, without experiencing digestive problems. Although there is no direct link between lactose intolerance and seizures, this condition could affect electrolyte levels to the point that abnormal brain electrical activity could take place, resulting in seizures.
What Is Lactose Intolerance?
Lactose is a sugar that is primarily found in dairy products, such as milk, cheese and cream. People with lactose intolerance have reduced levels of an enzyme known as lactase in the digestive tract. These reduced lactase levels make it hard for the digestive tract to absorb lactose. As a result, ingestion of foods with lactose causes digestive problems, including gas and diarrhea. Lactose intolerance can be minimized by keeping intact lactose from getting into the intestines.
What Are Seizures?
To understand the potential link between lactose intolerance and seizures, it is important to understand what seizures are. Seizures are caused by abnormal electrical activity in the brain, resulting in altered consciousness or involuntary muscle movements. Some cases of seizures are due to epilepsy, a condition in which the neurons in the brain develop abnormal electrical activity. There is no link between lactose intolerance and epilepsy, but changes in electrolyte levels can also affect neurological activity.
Lactose Intolerance and Electrolytes
If you have lactose intolerance, you may have trouble getting all the calcium you need due to an inability to consume dairy products. For many people, dairy products represent a significant source of dietary calcium and vitamin D, which is needed to absorb calcium. Diarrhea caused by lactose intolerance can also deplete the body of sodium. Low levels of calcium and sodium can both affect the neurons and lead to seizures.
Treatment
If you have lactose intolerance, talk to your doctor to develop a diet plan that allows you to get all the calcium and vitamin D that you need. You can also get vitamin D and calcium by taking supplements. Lactase supplements can also allow you to consume lactose without developing diarrhea and other gastrointestinal problems, potentially preventing sodium loss.
