Also known as hypolactasia and lactase deficiency, it is important to understand that this condition is not a food allergy; it is the inability to digest lactose which is the primary sugar in cows’ milk. The un-digested lactose passes through the small intestine into the colon and gives cause to symptoms. Cows’ milk is an important food source, and lactose-free milk can be given (temporarily) to children or adults who suffer from the condition.
The symptoms of lactose intolerance in adults may or may not include:
- Passing of gas – flatulence
- Abdominal pain
- Abdominal bloating or distention
- Diarrhea
- Nausea
Milk allergy is not an ‘intolerance’ for lactose, milk or dairy products; it is an abnormal immune response which is triggered by the proteins contained in milk.
The common symptoms of lactose intolerance in adults while uncomfortable are not life-threatening, although they may be disturbing for people in the same vicinity. Hypolactasiac flatulence may be methane laden, which means… peeuuw… its time to leave the room. The same symptoms may also be experienced by people who suffer from other gastrointestinal conditions, and lactose intolerance is not considered to be a “disease” it is the normal state for most adults in the world.
The presence of symptoms are not a very good predictor of whether or not a person suffers from lactase deficiency, so, there are a number of tests which can be done to determine the condition. These are:
- Elimination diet
- The milk challenge
- Hydrogen breath test
- Blood glucose test
- Stool acidity test
- Intestinal biopsy
Medical diagnosis is not normally needed to treat the symptoms of lactose intolerance in adults. Symptom severity varies widely from person-to-person, and the main reason for this is that people have different amounts of dairy in their diets. Obviously the more lactose contained in a diet, the more severe the symptoms may be. Cases are also classified as mild, moderate, or severe, and in mild lactase deficiency, the sufferer may not even know they have it.
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