lactose intolerance (redirected from Lactose intolerent)

Lactose Intolerance 

Definition

Lactose intolerance refers to the inability of the body to digest lactose.

Description

Lactose is the form of sugar present in milk. The enzyme lactase, which is normally produced by cells lining the small intestine, breaks down lactose into substances that can be absorbed into the bloodstream. When dairy products are ingested, the lactose reaches the digestive system and is broken down by lactase into the simpler sugars glucose and galactose. The liver changes the galactose into glucose, which then enters the bloodstream and raises the blood glucose level. Lactose intolerance occurs when, due to a deficiency of lactase, lactose is not completely broken down and the glucose level does not rise. While not usually dangerous, lactose intolerance can cause severe discomfort.

From 30 to 50 million Americans suffer from the symptoms of lactose intolerance, but not everyone who is deficient in lactase experiences symptoms. Experts believe that 75% of the adult population worldwide does not produce enough lactase and is at risk for some or all of the symptoms of lactose intolerance.

Causes and symptoms

Lactose intolerance can be caused by some diseases of the digestive system and by injuries to the small intestine that result in a decreased production of lactase. While rare, some children are also born unable to produce the enzyme. For many, however, lactase deficiency develops naturally because, after about two years of age, the body produces less lactase.

Symptoms include nausea, cramps, diarrhea, bloating and gas. The symptoms usually occur between 30 minutes to two hours after eating or drinking lactose-containing foods.

Diagnosis

Usually, health care professionals measure the absorption of lactose in the digestive system by using the lactose tolerance test, hydrogen breath test or stool acidity test. Each of these can be performed outpatient, through a hospital, clinic or doctor's office.

People taking the lactose tolerance test must fast before being tested. They then drink a lactose-containing liquid for the test and medical personnel take blood samples during the next two hours to measure the patient's blood glucose level. The blood glucose level, or blood sugar level, indicates how well the body is digesting the lactose. A diagnosis of lactose intolerance is confirmed when blood glucose level does not rise. This test is not administered to infants and very young children because they are more prone to dehydration, which can result from diarrhea from the liquid.

Health care professionals measure the amount of hydrogen in the breath using the hydrogen breath test. Hydrogen is usually detected only in small amounts in the breath. However when undigested lactose found in the colon is fermented by bacteria, hydrogen in the breath is produced in greater quantities. The hydrogen is exhaled after being absorbed from the intestines and carried through the bloodstream to the lungs. The hydrogen breath test involves having the patient drink a lactose-containing beverage. Health care professionals monitor the breath at regular intervals to see if the hydrogen levels rise, which indicates improper lactose digestion. People taking the test who have had certain foods, medications or cigarettes before the test may get inaccurate results. While the test is available to children and adults, newborns and young children should not have it because of the risk of dehydration from drinking the beverage that can cause diarrhea in those who are lactose intolerant.

A stool acidity test measures the amount of acid in the stool. This is a safe test for newborns and young children. The test detects lactic acid and other short-chain fatty acids from undigested lactose fermented by bacteria in the colon. Glucose might also be in the stool sample, resulting form unabsorbed lactose in the colon.

Treatment

Pediatricians might recommend that parents of newborns and very young children who are suspected of having lactose intolerance simply change from cow's milk to a soya formula. Since there is no treatment that can improve the body's ability to produce lactase, lactose deficiency treatments instead, are focused on controlling the diet.

Most people affected by lactose intolerance do well if they limit their intake of lactose foods and drinks. People differ in the amounts they can handle before experiencing symptoms. Some have to stop lactose completely. People who are sensitive after ingesting small amounts of lactose can take lactase enzymes, which are available without a prescription. Using the liquid form, people can add a few drops in their milk, put the milk in the refrigerator and drink it after 24 hours, when the lactase enzymes have worked to reduce the lactose content by 70%. If the milk is heated first and double the amount of lactase liquid is added, the milk will be 90 percent lactose free. Recently, researchers have developed a chewable lactase enzyme tablet. By taking three to six tablets just before eating, the tablets help people digest lactose-containing solid foods. Supermarkets also carry lactose-reduced mild and other products, which contain the needed nutrients found in the regular products but without the lactose.

Foods that contain lactose are milk, low-fat milk, skim milk, chocolate milk, buttermilk, sweetened condensed milk, dried whole milk, instant nonfat dry milk, low-fat yogurts, frozen yogurts ice cream, ice milk, sherbet, cheese, cottage cheese, low-fat cottage cheese, cream and butter. Other foods that may contain hidden lactose are: nondairy creamers, powdered artificial sweeteners, foods containing milk power or nonfat milk solids, bread, cake, margarine, creamed soups, pancakes, waffles, processed breakfast cereals, salad dressings, lunch meats, puddings, custards, confections and some meat products.

Prognosis

Lactose intolerance is easy to manage. People of all ages however, especially children, have to replace the calcium lost by cutting back on milk products by taking supplements and eating calcium-rich foods, such as broccoli, kale, canned salmon with bones, calcium-fortified foods and tofu. Many people who suffer with lactose intolerance will be able to continue eating some milk products. The condition is not considered dangerous.

Prevention

Often, lactose intolerance is a natural occurrence that cannot be avoided. However, people can prevent symptoms by managing the condition with diet and lactase supplements.

Key terms

Galactose — Simple sugar derived from milk sugar.

Glucose — A simple sugar and the chief energy source in the body.

Lactase enzyme — The enzyme produced by cells that line the small intestine which allows the body to break down lactose.

Lactose — The primary sugar in milk.

Resources

Organizations

American Dietetic Association. (800) 366-1655. 〈http://www.eatright.org/nfs/nfs43.html〉.

Other

"Lactose Intolerance." Onebody.com. 〈http://www.onebody.com〉.

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intolerance /in·tol·er·ance/ (in-tol´er-ans) inability to withstand or consume; inability to absorb or metabolize nutrients.

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congenital lysine intolerance  an inherited disorder due to a defect in the degradation of lysine, characterized by vomiting, rigidity, and coma, and high levels of ammonia, lysine, and arginine in the blood.

congenital sucrose intolerance  a disaccharide intolerance specific for sucrase, usually due to a congenital defect in the sucrase-isomaltase enzyme complex; see sucrase-isomaltase deficiency.

disaccharide intolerance  a complex of abdominal symptoms after ingestion of normal quantities of dietary carbohydrates, including diarrhea, flatulence, distention, and pain; it is usually due to deficiency of one or more disaccharidases but may be due to impaired absorption or other causes.

drug intolerance 

1. inability to continue taking, or difficulty in continuing to take, a medication because of an adverse side effect that is not immunity-mediated.

2. the state of reacting to the normal pharmacologic doses of a drug with the symptoms of overdosage.

hereditary fructose intolerance  an inherited disorder of fructose metabolism due to an enzymatic deficiency, with onset in infancy, characterized by hypoglycemia with variable manifestations of fructosuria, fructosemia, anorexia, vomiting, failure to thrive, jaundice, splenomegaly, and an aversion to fructose-containing foods.

lactose intolerance  a disaccharide intolerance specific for lactose, usually due to an inherited deficiency of lactase activity in the intestinal mucosa, which may not be manifest until adulthood. Congenital lactose i. may be due to an inherited immediate deficiency of lactase activity or may be a more severe disorder with vomiting, dehydration, failure to thrive, disacchariduria, and cataracts, probably due to abnormal permeability of the gastric mucosa.

lysinuric protein intolerance  a hereditary disorder of metabolism involving a defect in dibasic amino acid transport; characterized by growth retardation, episodic hyperammonemia, seizures, mental retardation, hepatomegaly, muscle weakness, and osteopenia; it can be treated with citrulline supplementation.

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lactose intolerance

n.

The inability to digest lactose, resulting from deficiency of the enzyme lactase and sometimes causing diarrhea or other gastrointestinal symptoms.

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lactose intolerance,

a sensitivity disorder resulting in the inability to digest lactose from milk products because of an inadequate production of or defect in the enzyme lactase. Symptoms of the disorder are bloating, flatus, nausea, diarrhea, and abdominal cramps. The diet is adjusted according to the tolerance level; the milk-derived foods (milk, cheese, butter, and margarine), and any products containing milk, such as cakes, ice cream, cream soups, and sauces, are restricted. Also called milk intolerance. See also lactase deficiency.

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lactose,

n a disaccharide found in the milk of all mammals. Lactose is used as a component of formulas for infants; it is also used as a laxative and a diuretic.

lactose intolerance,

n an inability to digest the lactose in milk and milk products.

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lactose

a sugar derived from milk, which on hydrolysis yields glucose and galactose.

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lactose digestion test

oral test of foal's ability to digest milk sugar.

lactose intolerance

inability to digest lactose in the diet because of the lack of the enzyme lactase in the small intestine. Clinical consequences are intestinal discomfort and diarrhea.

lactose tolerance test

a monitor of intestinal epithelial damage, similar to the starch digestion test. The test measures the rise in blood glucose at timed intervals after oral administration of lactose; essentially a test of disaccharidase efficiency of the gut.

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lactose intolerance

β-d-galactosidase deficiency, lactase deficiency Internal medicine An acquired, or AR condition characterized by an inability to digest lactose–often due to lactase deficiency, which may ↑ with age; LI is more common in African Americans, Native Americans, Mediterraneans, Asians, due to deficiency of lactase on intestinal brush borders Etiology GI disease–celiac sprue, viral or bacterial gastroenteritis, post-gastroduodenal surgery Clinical Abdominal bloating, nausea, cramps, flatulence, inability to metabolize disaccharides, resulting in osmotic diuresis, diarrhea, acidic stools Management Lactose restriction in diet unless pretreated with lactase; cultured milk products–eg, yogurt, buttermilk may be well tolerated. See Lactose, Lactose tolerance test.

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Patient discussion about Lactose intolerent.

Q. What Is the Difference Between Milk Allergy and Milk Intolerance? My 1 year old baby is sensitive to milk products. The doctor said this might pass when he grows up if it is just lactose intolerance, or it may stay if it is an actual milk allergy. What is the difference?

A. Huge differance between a Food Allergy and Food Tollerance. Food Allergies = An alergic reaction rash, diharea, feeling sick/ill ect... simular to pollen rag weed ect except it's food! when your body recognizes a forein object it identifies it and then tries to get rid of it with your immune system FOOD ALLERGIES can happen from eating the same thing and suddenly for a reason (not discovered YET) your body dosen't recognize it as food instead treats it like a forein invader after it goes through your system the syptoms go away.they can get worse or even deadly each time YOUR EXPOSED

HOWEVER, Food Tollerance such as Lactose Intollerance means that your body is not producing ENOUGH of the Lactase Enzyme. Lactase is the enzyme that breaks down the sugar Lactose. Lactose is the common sugar in most dairy products.Having an intollerance simply means that you cannot digest dairy products UNLESS YOU take that enzyme with your meal.(enzyme deficiency)

lookUP the meaning of the words

Q. I am lactose intolerant. Can I have any other dairy food?

A. Hi DavidJuan. I have a true milk allergy myself which goes beyond lactose intolerance. Keep this in mind. We are the only mammals that drink the milk of another! Do you ever see a giraffe suckling from an elephant? You can use rice milk, preferably in organic form. There are so many other foods to eat without jeopardizing your health to have milk!

Q. lactose intolerant If you are lactose intolerant and you consume a dairy related product can it cause a fever?

A. No
Lactose Intolerance means you lack the enzyme to digest milk.
You get diarrhea NOT fever
DrMDK