What is Luctose intolerance?

Question

How should I deal with it?

Answer 1

Description of Lactose Intolerance
Lactose intolerance is the inability to digest significant amounts of lactose, which is the predominant sugar of milk. Fifty million American adults are lactose intolerant. Certain ethnic and racial populations are more widely affected than others. As many as 75 percent of all African-American, Jewish, Native American and Mexican-American adults, and 90 percent of Asian-American adults are lactose intolerant. The condition is least common among persons of Northern European descent.

Lactose intolerance results from a shortage of the enzyme lactase, normally produced by the cells that line the small intestine. Lactase breaks down milk sugar into simpler forms that can then be absorbed into the bloodstream. When there is not enough lactase to digest the amount of lactose consumed, although not usually dangerous, the results can be distressing.

Causes and Risk Factors of Lactose Intolerance
Some causes of lactose intolerance are well-known. For instance, certain digestive diseases and injuries to the small intestine can reduce the amount of enzymes produced. In rare cases, children are born without the ability to produce lactase.

For most people, lactase deficiency is a condition that develops naturally and over time. After the age of two, the body begins to produce less lactase. The reasons for this are unclear and under study.

Symptoms of Lactose Intolerance
Common symptoms are nausea, cramps, bloating, gas and diarrhea, which can begin between about 30 minutes to two hours after eating or drinking foods containing lactose. Many people who have never been diagnosed as lactose intolerant, or "lactase deficient," may notice that milk and other dairy products cause problems that do not occur when eating other foods. The severity of symptoms varies, depending on the amount of lactose each individual can tolerate.

Diagnosis of Lactose Intolerance
The most common tests used to measure the absorption of lactose in the digestive system are the lactose tolerance test, the hydrogen breath test and the stool acidity test. A doctor can tell you where to go for these tests, which are performed on an outpatient basis at a hospital or clinic.

Treatment of Lactose Intolerance
Fortunately, lactose intolerance is relatively easy to treat. No known way exists to increase the amount of lactase enzyme the body can make, but symptoms can be controlled through diet.

Small children born with lactase deficiency should not be fed foods containing lactose. Most older children and adults need not avoid lactose completely, but individuals differ in the amounts of lactose they can tolerate. For example, one person may suffer symptoms after drinking a small glass of milk, while another can drink one glass, but not two. Others may be able to manage ice cream and aged cheeses, such as cheddar and Swiss, but not other dairy products. Dietary control of the problem depends on each person's knowing, through trial and error, how much milk sugar and what forms of it his or her body can handle.


For those who react to very small amounts of lactose or have trouble limiting their intake of foods that contain lactose, lactase additives are available from drug stores without a prescription. One form is a liquid for use with milk. A few drops are added to a quart of milk, and after 24 hours in the refrigerator, the lactose content is reduced by 70 percent. The process works faster if the milk is heated first, and adding a double amount of lactase liquid produces milk that is 90 percent lactose free. A more recent development is a lactase tablet that helps people digest solid foods that contain lactose. One to three tablets are taken just before a meal or snack.

At somewhat higher cost, shoppers can buy lactose-reduced milk at most supermarkets. The milk contains all of the other nutrients found in regular milk and remains fresh for about the same length of time.

Answer 2

I think you mean lactose intolerance, which is a deficiency in the enzyme that our bodies use to break up and digest lactose, a sugar found in large amounts in milk and consquently all dairy products. This causes abdominal pain and diarrhea in sufferers when they eat too much of it (what too much is varies from person to person). The way you deal with it is by avoiding dairy as much as possible.

Answer 3

that is an allergy to milk. People who are lactose intolerant can't drink milk, but sometimes, yogurt is okay. there are some certain brands that are specialized for lactose intolernts

Answer 4

Lactose intollerence is an allergy to milk and or milk products the severity is different for everyone.
My boys couldnt drink milk untill they were 2 but ate yogurt cheese and other dairy products. They just drank vanilla soy milk and ate their cereal with strawberry yogurt.

Answer 5

Do you mean lactose intolerance?