An Introduction to Lactose Intolerance
Lactose is a sugar or carbohydrate found in milk and other dairy products.
A person is intolerant to lactose when they have difficulty digesting milks sugars from dairy products.
Normally, enzymes called lactase found in a person's digestive system are able to break down these sugars in to simpler components.
However when insufficient lactase is produced, the body is unable to break down these sugars, causing digestive problems which may result in abdominal pain and diarrhoea.
This is what is known as lactose intolerance of lactase deficiency.
The majority of mammals cease to produce lactase after they are weaned; however humans continue to produce it throughout life.
Many babies who have irritability to some foods are wrongly diagnosed and are subsequently weaned onto a lactose free formula, however true lactose intolerance in babies is actually very rare.
The more common variety of lactose intolerance develops after weaning.
This is known as secondary lactose intolerance, and may be brought about by such things as a bout of gastroenteritis, where the lining of the stomach is weakened.
This is usually a temporary condition that will improve as the lining of the gut strengthens and heals.
Interestingly, it is rare for Caucasian people to suffer from this condition.
It is far more common in people from Africa, Asia and the Middle East.
According to one study "up to five per cent of Caucasians and up to 75 per cent of non-Caucasians living in Australia are lactose intolerant".
The basic symptoms of lactose intolerance are abdominal pain and swelling, flatulence and diarrhoea.
Many people who have a lactose intolerance do in fact have some degree of tolerance, meaning they are able to eat some foods containing lactose.
It is when these foods are consumed to an excess that the digestive system cannot cope and the symptoms appear.
The wind, bloating and pain associated with intolerance to lactose is actually due to a fermentation process which takes place in the intestines.
The enzyme lactase breaks down the lactose (milk sugar).
This changes the sugar into glucose and galactose - compounds which the intestine is able to absorb.
If there is not enough lactase in the system to break down these milk sugars, bacteria in the system begin to break down the excess, which is where the fermentation process commences.
Undigested lactose is pushed along the intestines without water being removed, which results in diarrhoea.
There are four main causes of intolerance to lactose.
These are:
Lactose intolerance is caused by an inability to digest these milk sugars, as a result of a depleted amount of the enzyme lactase.
Symptoms of lactose intolerance include bloating, gas and diarrhea.
A person is intolerant to lactose when they have difficulty digesting milks sugars from dairy products.
Normally, enzymes called lactase found in a person's digestive system are able to break down these sugars in to simpler components.
However when insufficient lactase is produced, the body is unable to break down these sugars, causing digestive problems which may result in abdominal pain and diarrhoea.
This is what is known as lactose intolerance of lactase deficiency.
The majority of mammals cease to produce lactase after they are weaned; however humans continue to produce it throughout life.
Many babies who have irritability to some foods are wrongly diagnosed and are subsequently weaned onto a lactose free formula, however true lactose intolerance in babies is actually very rare.
The more common variety of lactose intolerance develops after weaning.
This is known as secondary lactose intolerance, and may be brought about by such things as a bout of gastroenteritis, where the lining of the stomach is weakened.
This is usually a temporary condition that will improve as the lining of the gut strengthens and heals.
Interestingly, it is rare for Caucasian people to suffer from this condition.
It is far more common in people from Africa, Asia and the Middle East.
According to one study "up to five per cent of Caucasians and up to 75 per cent of non-Caucasians living in Australia are lactose intolerant".
The basic symptoms of lactose intolerance are abdominal pain and swelling, flatulence and diarrhoea.
Many people who have a lactose intolerance do in fact have some degree of tolerance, meaning they are able to eat some foods containing lactose.
It is when these foods are consumed to an excess that the digestive system cannot cope and the symptoms appear.
The wind, bloating and pain associated with intolerance to lactose is actually due to a fermentation process which takes place in the intestines.
The enzyme lactase breaks down the lactose (milk sugar).
This changes the sugar into glucose and galactose - compounds which the intestine is able to absorb.
If there is not enough lactase in the system to break down these milk sugars, bacteria in the system begin to break down the excess, which is where the fermentation process commences.
Undigested lactose is pushed along the intestines without water being removed, which results in diarrhoea.
There are four main causes of intolerance to lactose.
These are:
- Congential - The main cause.
Your genes dictate that you produce less lactase than normal. - Iron deficiency - A diet lacking in iron may interfere with lactose digestion and absorption.
- Gastroenteritis - If you have Gastro, your intestines my be stripped of lactase for a while.
As the lining repairs itself, your lactase levels should return to normal. - Parasitic infection - May reduce lactase levels temporarily.
Lactose intolerance is caused by an inability to digest these milk sugars, as a result of a depleted amount of the enzyme lactase.
Symptoms of lactose intolerance include bloating, gas and diarrhea.