What are the symptoms of lactose intolerence?

Question

ie how does a person with lactose intolerence feel when they drink cows milk

Answer 1

Gas, upset stomach, diahrea

Answer 2

Uncommon lactose intolerence symptoms include:
- Nausea
- Abdominal bloating
- Abdominal distention


The lactose that has not been absorbed into the body causes lactose intolerence symptoms. The lactose passes into the small intestine and into the colon. When the lactase changes the lactose in glucose and galactose, it releases a hydrogen gas. Part of this gas is responsible for the increase in flatus or passing gas. The rest is used by other bacteria or expelled in breathing. If the lactose cannot be split by lactase it will bring water into the colon and result in runny, diarrhea.

Generally the more lactose in the diet, the more severe the lactose intolerence symptoms will be but the severity can change in different people. Most people experience mild to severe lactose intolerance symptoms, even if the same amount is consumed between two people. The reason may be due to the difference in intestinal bacteria.

Answer 3

Lactose is a disaccharide, which means that it is composed of two other sugars bound together. In order for lactose to be absorbed, it must be split into those two smaller sugars. This split is performed by an enzyme called lactase, which is present in the lining of the small intestine.

If the levels of the lactase enzyme are low or absent, then that splitting does not occur. The lactose is fermented by the bacteria in the large intestine and this produces excess gas and stomach rumbling and leads to diarrhoea.

Lactase activity is high in babies and declines as the amount of milk in the diet decreases. Some people may have very low lactase levels but not have any symptoms. The reason for this is not known.

What are the symptoms of lactose intolerance?

Stomach rumbling, abdominal distension and increased wind.


Diarrhoea.


Abdominal colic.


Nausea.


What can you do to help yourself?


If you are suffering from diarrhoea, or have recently recovered, cut down on dairy products.


How is lactose intolerance diagnosed?

'The domestic method' - avoid eating foods that contain lactose for a couple of days and then drink two to three glasses of milk. If you get a stomachache or diarrhoea within half an hour, you are lactose intolerant.

If you wish to have your suspicions confirmed, you will need one of the following more formal tests.


The lactose tolerance test - your doctor measures your blood sugar levels before and after you drink a liquid containing lactose. If the blood sugar goes up with this test, then you are not lactose intolerant.


The breath test - you are given a lactose solution to drink and the doctor analyses your breath for hydrogen gas, which is only present if the lactose is fermented.


An analysis of a sample from the lining of the small intestine is obtained during an endoscopy, which involves inserting a small tube into the stomach.


How is lactose intolerance treated?

It depends on the severity of the symptoms. People with mild symptoms may feel better simply after reducing the amount of dairy products in their diet.

For those with severe symptoms, a formal lactose-free diet should be adopted. This is best achieved by a consultation with a dietitian, which can be arranged through a GP.

The symptoms of lactose intolerance vary greatly. Some sufferers can easily manage cream in their coffee whereas others get diarrhoea from even a small amount of lactose. Yoghurt may be tolerated by some while other lactose-containing foods may not be.

Lactose intolerance is a harmless condition. If for any reason, you are unable to follow your diet, you are not in any danger, and you will not damage yourself in any way. However, the symptoms may well recur.

Which foods contain lactose?


Milk, butter, margarine, fermented milk products, yoghurt and cheese.


Milk powder.


Bread and other baked goods - read the label to check.


Prepared foods - again, read the label.


Chocolate.


Many types of tablets.

Answer 4

Lactose intolerance is not an allergy, it is an incapability of the body to digest lactose (one of the carbohydrates of the milk) because the body doesn't not produce enough enzymes (and sometimes none) to digest it.
Because the body cannot digest it, the carbohydrate goes through a fermentation process inside the intestine provoking symptoms that may vary from bloating in mild cases to severe abdominal pain and diarrhea.
Most people with lactose intolerance produce this enzyme (lactaza) but not in enough quantity... that is why sometimes when they drink or eat very little diary products they show no problem. The severity of the symptom depends directly on how much dairy product the person consumed.

Answer 5

(m)

the symptoms of lactose intolerance

Stomach rumbling, abdominal distension and increased wind.
Diarrhoea.
Abdominal colic.
Nausea.

Causes
Lactose is a disaccharide, which means that it is composed of two other sugars bound together. In order for lactose to be absorbed, it must be split into those two smaller sugars. This split is performed by an enzyme called lactase, which is present in the lining of the small intestine.

If the levels of the lactase enzyme are low or absent, then that splitting does not occur. The lactose is fermented by the bacteria in the large intestine and this produces excess gas and stomach rumbling and leads to diarrhoea.

Lactase activity is high in babies and declines as the amount of milk in the diet decreases. Some people may have very low lactase levels but not have any symptoms. The reason for this is not known.

Answer 6

I am lactose intolerant. I cannot drink cows' milk without vomitting and terrible feelings of nausea. Some times I have little in my coffee however if I have too much I suffer from flatus (farting) and have bad abdomen cramps. Ice cream just will not stay down. It makes life hard and the soy products ever taste any good.

Answer 7

If your stomache begins to hurt after having lactose products then there might be a chance that you are lactose intolerant.

Answer 8

I am lactose intolerent and i feel like vomiting every time i drink milk it makes my stomach very upset i drink soy milk

Answer 9

With lactose intolerance, the result of consuming too much lactose is excess gas production and often diarrhea.
Please see the webpages for more details on Lactose intolerance.

Answer 10

Do not eat for one day, drink one pint of milk; if you throw up or feel very sick then you are lactose intolerant.

There is a more precise medical tes which you can take; ask your doctor about this.

Answer 11

The stomach problems already mentioned are the most common, however I think some people with an intolerance also get migraines and I know from experience that they bloody kill!!