Lactose Intolerance

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Lactose Intolerance

• Student Created

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Definition

• The inability to digest and absorb lactose (the
  sugar in milk) that results in gastrointestinal
  symptoms when milk or products containing milk
  are drunk or eaten.

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Causes

• It is caused by reduced or absent activity of
  lactase that prevents the splitting of lactose.
  This is due to three reasons congenital,
  secondary or developmental.
• Congenital Absence from birth of lactase due to
  a mutation in the gene responsible for creating
  lactose.
• Secondary Due to diseases that destroy the
  lining of the small intestine along with the
  lactase.
• Developmental A decrease in the amount of
  lactase that occurs after childhood and persists
  into adulthood.

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Risk Factors

• Age Lactose intolerance usually starts after age
  5 the condition is uncommon in babies and young
  children.
• Ethnicity Lactose intolerance is more common in
  certain ethnic and racial populations. Lactose
  intolerance is more common in black, Asian,
  Hispanic and American Indian populations.
• Premature birth Infants born prematurely (28 to
  32 weeks of gestation) may have reduced levels of
  lactase, because this enzyme increases in the
  fetus late in the third trimester.

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Symptoms

• Abdominal bloating
• Abdominal cramps
• Gas
• Malnutrition
• Nausea
• Slow growth
• Weight loss
• Symptoms often occur after you eat or drink milk
  products, and are often relieved by not eating or
  drinking milk products. Large doses of milk
  products may cause worse symptoms.

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Elimination Diet

• Most common way to test lactose intolerance.
  (eliminating obvious milk and milk products)
• Some problems with this are
• 1. Milk products are so common in prepared foods
  that it is likely that the diet is not as
  rigorous as it should be.
• 2. Some people do too short a trial.
• 3. There is a possibility of a placebo effect
  where people think they feel better when they
  actually arent.

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Treatment

• Removing milk from the diet usually improves
  symptoms however, not having milk can lead to a
  shortage of calcium, vitamin D, riboflavin, and
  protein. Add other sources of calcium to the diet
  if you remove milk products.
• You can add lactase enzymes to regular milk or
  take them in capsule or chewable tablet form.
• You may need to find new ways to get calcium into
  your diet (you need 1,200 - 1,500 mg of calcium
  each day)
• Take calcium supplements
• Eat foods that have more calcium (leafy greens,
  oysters, sardines, canned salmon, shrimp, and
  broccoli)
• Drink orange juice that contains added calcium

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Treatment cont.

• These milk products may be easier to digest
• Buttermilk and cheeses (they have less lactose
  than milk)
• Fermented milk products, such as yogurt
• Goat's milk (but drink it with meals, and make
  sure it is supplemented with essential amino
  acids and vitamins if you give it to children)
• Ice cream, milkshakes, and aged or hard cheeses
• Lactose-free milk and milk products
• Lactase-treated cow's milk for older children and
  adults
• Soy formulas for infants younger than 2 years
• Soy or rice milk for toddlers

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Lactose in non-dairy products

• Sometimes found in
• Sausages/hot dogs
• Sliced meats
• Gravy stock powder
• Margarines
• Sliced bread
• Breakfast cereals
• Potato chips
• Dried fruit
• Processed foods
• Medications
• Protein Supplements

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Alternatives to Soy Milk

• Many people have difficulty digesting soy
  products.  Some people can tolerate soy but only
  if it is cooked, others only in small amounts. 
  There are several alternative choices available
  with Rice, Almond or Oat milk, each has a
  different flavor so try the various brands until
  you find one you like.  Be sure to buy the
  enriched varieties as they provide as much
  calcium and vitamins A and D as cows milk and
  remember to read the labels, some brands of rice,
  almond, and oat milks are blended with soy.

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Resources

• https//www.lactaid.com/index.jhtml
• http//www.mayoclinic.com/health/lactose-intoleran
  ce/DS00530
• http//kidshealth.org/teen/food_fitness/nutrition/
  lactose_intolerance.html