Lactose is the sugar found in milk and milk products, and if you are lactose intolerant, you are unable to digest this sugar without it causing discomfort because your body is deficient in lactase, an enzyme that breaks down the lactose. For many people, the inability to eat milk and milk products reduces their dietary intake of vitamin D and calcium. If you also suffer from multiple sclerosis, this reduction in vitamin D and calcium can create complications such as osteomalacia, or softening of the bones. If you are lactose intolerant and suffer from multiple sclerosis it is important to know what other sources can provide these vitamins for you.
Lactose Intolerance
According to the National Digestive Diseases Information Clearinghouse, or NDDIC, lactose intolerance is your body's inability to process lactose, which is the sugar found in milk and milk products. Your body has a deficiency in the enzyme lactase, and without enough of this, your body is unable to break down the lactose. Lactose intolerance can be inherited, or it can be caused by a lactase deficiency due to an injury or illness. Symptoms of lactose intolerance usually occur within half an hour to two hours after eating milk products. They can include abdominal pain, bloating, gas, diarrhea and nausea. Because milk and milk products are a major dietary source of calcium and vitamin D, you risk deficiencies in these vitamins if you are lactose intolerant.
Multiple Sclerosis
Multiple sclerosis, or MS, is an autoimmune disease where the immune system attacks the myelin sheath surrounding the nerve cells. This damage interferes with the messages between the brain and the body and results in muscle weakness, problems with coordination and balance, numbness, cognitive problems and vision disturbances. There is no cure for multiple sclerosis, and it is usually a progressive disease. It is more common in women and usually begins in between 20 and 40 years of age. Medications can help to control symptoms and slow the disease progression.
Lactose Intolerance and Multiple Sclerosis
Lactose intolerance and the inability to eat milk and milk products increase your risk for calcium and vitamin D deficiencies. If you suffer from multiple sclerosis, this risk of vitamin deficiencies can create complications. According to a 2011 study published in the "Journal of Osteoporosis," if you are living with multiple sclerosis you are already at a greater risk for osteoporotic fractures due to immobilization, long-term treatments with corticosteroids and vitamin D deficiency. If you add lactose intolerance to the picture, your risk for fractures increases due to the added risk of calcium deficiency and even greater risk of vitamin D deficiency.
Considerations
If you are lactose intolerant and diagnosed with multiple sclerosis, you need to consult with your doctor regarding these possible deficiencies and have your blood levels tested. If you are deficient in calcium or vitamin D, your doctor will prescribe supplements to bring up your levels and will work with you to create a diet with foods and supplements high in these vitamins. To supplement vitamin D, you can continue to drink milk with lactase enzymes added, eat oily fish like salmon, increase your exposure to sunlight or take vitamin D supplements. For calcium, foods like rhubarb, sardines, spinach, salmon, oranges, broccoli and tuna can provide some dietary sources. You also can take calcium supplement tablets. In many cases, you will be able to find supplements of both vitamin D and calcium together. Work with your doctor to find the best possible treatment plan to work around your lactose intolerance and MS.
