Lactose is a type of sugar found in milk, cheese, ice cream and other dairy foods. When you are diagnosed with lactose intolerance, it means that you have to make some lifestyle changes, since your body cannot digest lactose. While lactose intolerance is not fatal, it does cause gastrointestinal distress if you consume dairy foods. Lactose intolerance leads to gas, bloating, cramping or diarrhea after having even a small serving of milk-based foods.
Lactose Intolerance versus Milk Allergy
Lactose intolerance means that your small intestine does not make adequate amounts of the enzyme lactase. Lactase breaks lactose down into simple sugars, such as glucose and galactose, which are absorbed into the bloodstream and used to supply energy to all cells. If your body does not digest the lactose, gastrointestinal distress symptoms can begin as soon as 30 minutes after consuming lactose and can last for hours. A milk allergy is a negative reaction by your immune system caused by milk proteins. Having a milk allergy can be life threatening. Typically, milk allergies occur during the first year of life, while lactose intolerance symptoms appear as an adult.
Diagnosis
Lactose intolerance can be confused with other intestinal disorders, such as irritable bowel syndrome. Your doctor may perform a couple different tests to verify that your symptoms are related to lactose intolerance. If your body is unable to digest lactose, you expel a larger than normal amount of hydrogen. The hydrogen breath test measures the amount of hydrogen you breathe out, letting your doctor know that there is undigested lactose in your stomach. For children and infants, a doctor can diagnose lactose intolerance by evaluating the stool for lactic acid, fatty acids or glucose, which also confirms that the body is not properly breaking down lactose.
Treatment and Diet
There is no way to enable the body to produce more lactase. You can manage lactose intolerance symptoms by changing your diet. Depending on the level of severity of your particular case of lactose intolerance, you may or may not be able to have dairy foods in your diet. The Dietary Guidelines for Americans 2005 recommends consuming foods with lower levels of lactose than milk. Foods such as hard cheese and yogurt don't contain nearly as much lactose and you may tolerate them in small amounts. Additionally, gradually adding small amounts of milk foods to your diet may help your body adjust so you experience fewer symptoms.
Dietary Supplement
Some over-the-counter dietary supplements may help prevent gastrointestinal distress caused by lactose intolerance. These types of medications work by providing the natural lactase enzyme that you are lacking in your digestive tract. They can help your body breakdown lactose, but you must take the medication before you consume dairy foods. Talk with your physician to see if this is a good option to help manage your lactose intolerance symptoms.
