"I'm lactose intolerant. I have no patience for lactose, and I won't stand for it." -Jerry Seinfeld

My friend likes cheese as much as the next guy. Same goes for ice cream, yogurt, and milk. However, he doesn't like the gas and bloating he gets when consuming these dairy products. He suffers from lactose intolerance, a very common problem and has to take special pills to get these foods to go down easily.

What is lactose intolerance?

Lactose is a form of sugar found in milk, and is composed of glucose and galactose. People who are lactose intolerant are unable to digest lactose properly due to not producing enough of the enzyme lactase, a protein that breaks down lactose in the body. Lactase is found in the cell lining of the small intestine, and allows for the lactose sugar to be absorbed in the bloodstream.

Certain ethnic groups are more likely to develop lactose intolerance. It is especially common among Asian Americans, Blacks, and Hispanics, sometimes up to 90 percent in these populations. It can also be more prevalent as you get older. Approximately 30 to 50 million people suffer from some form of lactose intolerance.

Lactose intolerance is not the same thing as a milk allergy. Milk allergies are due to problems with the ingestion of milk proteins (as opposed to sugars), and usually these people suffer symptoms such as respiratory ailments and skin rashes.

What are the symptoms?

Symptoms of lactose intolerance aren't fun. They include bloating, cramping, rumbling abdominal sounds, flatulence, and diarrhea. Severity of the disease is different with each person, and varies with the amount of lactose eaten. The symptoms generally occur within thirty minutes to a few hours of eating a lactose-laced meal.

Lactose is not only found in dairy products but in many prepared foods as well. Cereals, luncheon meats, and frozen dinners are just a sample of the many products that contain lactose. Also common medications like cold preparations and birth control pills may contain lactose. It's important to read labels to look for "hidden" sources of lactose.

How is it diagnosed?

Lactose intolerance can be easily tested in the medical office. A hydrogen breath test or lactose tolerance test can measure how efficiently the body breaks down lactose. Sometimes a stool test is administered in babies suspected of having lactose intolerance.

Alternatively, avoiding dairy products yourself for a few days and seeing improvement in symptoms may signify you have a lactose intolerance problem.

How is it treated?

Lactase enzyme pills can be found over-the-counter and may be helpful if taken before eating a lactose-filled meal. There are also lactase drops that can be added to dairy products, or lactose-reduced milk that can be purchased at the grocery store.

If you suffer from lactose intolerance, it's important to take calcium supplementation if you're not able to take dairy products. Calcium is important for bone resorption and growth, and can help prevent against osteoporosis.

The recommended daily allowance for calcium in women is between 1000 mg to 1200 mg a day. There are many non-dairy products that contain calcium, including calcium-fortified orange juice; green vegetables, such as broccoli and collard greens; and fish such as sardines and salmon.

Luckily, lactose intolerance is more bothersome than it is serious. With proper planning of meals and food preparation, lactose intolerance is one dietary problem that can be successfully handled with a little effort.

 

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