Lactose Intolerance And Mental Disorders

If you have lactose intolerance, you cannot digest foods that contain lactose, the sugar in milk and foods made with milk. Research presented at an international conference of physicians and researchers in 2011 indicates that some people who think they have lactose intolerance actually have symptoms caused by a mental disorder.

Lactose Intolerance

Intestinal enzymes help the body absorb food, and lactose intolerance is due to a deficiency of the enzyme lactase. People with this enzyme deficiency typically have negative reactions to dairy foods, with symptoms such as gas, nausea, diarrhea and bloating. Even if you have these symptoms after eating dairy products, only a breath, blood or stool test from your doctor can confirm lactose intolerance.

Psychological Factors

Psychological factors can contribute to digestive symptoms that appear to be lactose intolerance, and the prevalence of this disorder is likely highly overestimated, according to an article published in the June 1998 issue of the "Journal of the American Dietetic Association." A study appearing in the May 1997 issue of the "American Journal of Clinical Nutrition" noted previous reporting that individuals claiming to be severely lactose intolerant nevertheless had negligible symptoms after consuming a cup of milk. Further investigation found no significant increase in gastrointestinal symptoms in individuals after they drank a couple of cups of milk, whether they believed they were lactose intolerant or not. The participants who believed they were lactose intolerant, however, reported significantly greater symptoms.

Somatoform Disorder

Some people believe they have lactose intolerance when they actually have a somatoform disorder, according to research presented by Guido Basilisco, M.D., at the 2011 Digestive Disease Week in Chicago. This psychological disorder involves symptoms that appear to result from a physical disease but seem to have no physical cause. People with a somatoform disorder may experience abdominal pain, bloating, gas and diarrhea when they consume even small quantities of lactose, even though they are not lactose intolerant. It is unclear why this happens.

Possible Solution

Dr. Basilisco noted the possibility of cognitive interpersonal approaches for people who appear to have lactose intolerance symptoms reflecting a somatoform disorder. This therapy could help them have a more normal diet, including milk and foods made with milk. Further research is necessary for determining why some people identify food as the cause of physical symptoms when there is no physical basis for this, explained Dr. Basilisco.

Lactose Intolerance and Mental Disorders