A Bit About Lactose Intolerance

How Common Is Lactose Intolerance? 


More than 50 million Americans are lactose intolerant. 
Nearly two-thirds of the world's adult population has some degree of difficulty with digestion of milk sugar because of a lactase deficiency:

• 97-100% of African Blacks
• 90-100% of Asians
• 70-75% of North American Blacks
• 70-80% of Mexicans
• 60-90% of Mediterraneans
• 60-80% of Jewish descent
• 10-12% of Middle Europeans
• 7-15% of North American Caucasians
• 1-5% of Northern Europeans

Lactose Intolerance Symptoms 


The most common lactose intolerance symptoms are:

• Intestinal cramps or discomfort
• Gas
• Bloating
• Diarrhea

One study has suggested that women with lactose intolerance are more likely to have depression or PMS (premenstrual syndrome). 
Lactose intolerance symptoms are almost identical with symptoms of other chronic disorders such as irritable bowel syndrome or celiac disease.

Studies show that as many as 70% of lactose intolerant people don't link their symptoms to consumption of milk sugar. So it's possible that you may actually have lactose intolerance instead of "indigestion" or "irritable bowel".

Lactose Intolerance In Babies


Lactose or milk sugar intolerance is not commonly observed in infants (although they may have an allergy to milk proteins). The lactase enzyme reaches its maximum level in the human intestine soon after birth and declines after age 3 1/2, so symptoms of insufficient lactase may not begin to show up until after this age.

Symptoms of Baby Lactose Intolerance 


If your baby has any of the following symptoms, he or she may have lactose intolerance, although a milk allergy is more probable.

• Colic
• Crying
• Spitting up (reflux)
• Gas
• Loose stools
• Eczema
• Ear infections

Why Lactose Intolerance Is a Serious Health Problem


Inability to digest and absorb lactose leads to irritation of the lining of the intestines. This irritation in turn leads to a weakened digestive system that exposes you to future systemic disorders.

In addition to an inability to absorb needed nutrients, a weakened digestive system is more susceptible to attack by parasites, yeast and pathogenic bacteria, which worsens the problems in your intestines and exposes you to chronic disease. 
The inability to digest lactose may also be just the tip of the iceberg. Lactose intolerant people often have other problems that indicate the presence of a dairy allergy, not just a lactose intolerance.

Lactose Intolerance Is Not a Milk Allergy - But Is Easily Confused with Milk Allergy


Lactose intolerance is your intestine's reaction to milk sugar. A milk allergy is a systemic immune reaction against milk proteins.


Some symptoms of milk allergy can be similar to lactose intolerance symptoms. If you have any of the symptoms listed above, you could have lactose intolerance, a milk allergy, or both.

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More information at IBSTreatmentCenter.com
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