When you consume lactose, people who are lactose intolerant usually have digestive symptoms such as diarrhea and bloating.
The majority of mammals’ milk naturally contains a type of sugar called lactose.
Due to a malabsorption of lactose, lactose intolerance is a condition marked by symptoms like gas, bloating, diarrhea, and stomach pain.
In humans, lactose is broken down for digestion by an enzyme called lactase. This is especially important in newborns, who need lactase to digest breast milk.
However, as children grow, they generally produce less and less lactase.
By adulthood, nearly 70% of people worldwide no longer produce enough lactase to properly digest the lactose in milk, causing symptoms when they consume dairy products. Northwest Indians and Europeans are less likely to be lactose intolerant.
Additionally, some people may become intolerant to lactose following surgery or as a result of gastrointestinal disorders like bacterial or viral infections.
These are the top 5 indicators and manifestations of lactose intolerance.
1. Stomach pain and bloating:
Stomach pain and bloating are common symptoms of lactose intolerance in both children and adults.
When the body is unable to break down lactose, it passes through the intestines until it reaches the colon.
The natural bacteria called microflora that reside in the colon can ferment and break down carbohydrates like lactose, which the cells lining the colon are unable to absorb.
Short-chain fatty acids, as well as gases such as carbon dioxide, methane, and hydrogen, are released during fermentation.
Pain and cramping in the stomach may result from the subsequent rise in gas and acid. The pain is usually localized around the belly button and in the lower half of the belly.
Distension, or the stretching of the intestinal wall, is the result of an increase in gas and water in the colon, which gives rise to the sensation of bloating.
Interestingly, the amount of swelling and pain is not related to the amount of lactose ingested, but to the individual’s sensitivity to the sensation of distension. As a result, each person may experience symptoms differently in terms of frequency and intensity.
It is important to note that stomach pain and bloating are common symptoms that could result from other causes, such as overeating, other types of malabsorption, infections, medications, and other illnesses.
2. Diarrhea:
When a person has three or more watery or loose stools in a 24-hour period, they are officially diagnosed with diarrhea.
Diarrhea is caused by lactose intolerance, which increases the amount of water in the colon, increasing the volume and liquid content of the stool.
In the colon, microflora ferments lactose into short-chain fatty acids and gases. The colon reabsorbs the majority of these acids, but not all of them. The body releases more water into the colon as a result of the lactose and residual acids.
A person may experience symptoms of lactose intolerance from consuming as little as 3 grams of lactose. However, many people can tolerate 12 grams of lactose, the amount contained in 1 cup (240 ml) of milk.
If you suffer from diarrhea, it doesn’t always mean you have lactose intolerance. There are many other causes of diarrhea including diet, other types of malabsorption, medications, infections, and inflammatory bowel disease.
3. Increased gas:
The gases carbon dioxide, methane, and hydrogen are produced at higher rates during the lactose fermentation process in the colon.3
In fact, the microbiota of the colon becomes highly skilled at fermenting lactose into acids and gases in individuals who are lactose intolerant. This results in increased lactose fermentation in the colon, which further increases flatulence.
The amount of gas produced can vary enormously from person to person due to the different efficiency of the microflora and the speed at which the gas is reabsorbed by the colon.
It’s interesting to note that lactose fermentation produces odorless gases. Actually, rather than coming from carbs, the smell of flatulence is caused by the breakdown of proteins in the intestine.
4. Nausea:
Some people, including children, may experience nausea or even vomiting as a result of lactose intolerance. In one study, after stomach pain, nausea was the most typical sign of lactose intolerance in children.
You may feel sick to your stomach from the gas and volatile fatty acids produced by the fermentation of lactose in your intestines. The onset of symptoms usually occurs between 30 and 2 hours after consuming dairy products.
On the other hand, a variety of factors can result in nausea and vomiting. These include gastroenteritis (stomach flu), medications, motion sickness, pregnancy, and health conditions that affect the gut, nervous system, or hormones.
5. Other symptoms:
Several case studies have documented additional symptoms, despite the fact that these symptoms have less scientific backing. These symptoms include:
- constipation
- heachache
- fatigue
- loss of concentration
- muscle and joint pain
- mouth ulcers
- problems urinating
- eczema
These symptoms might have other causes, though, as they have not been proven to be genuine signs of lactose intolerance.
Additionally, some people with milk allergy may mistakenly attribute their symptoms to lactose intolerance.
Cow’s milk allergy is common in newborns and affects 2% to 3% of young children. In approximately 90% of cases, this allergy resolves within 6 years.
Contrary to popular belief, lactose intolerance is more common in adults than cow’s milk allergy in young children. It is thought that lactose intolerance in children under the age of five is uncommon.
Milk allergy and lactose intolerance are not related, although they may share symptoms such as abdominal pain, diarrhea, and vomiting.
Other symptoms of a milk allergy may include:
- urticaria
- itching
- I hiss
- shortness of breath
- blood in the stool
- colic
- swelling in or around the mouth or throat
- anaphylaxis, which is a medical emergency
As opposed to lactose intolerance, milk allergies can be fatal, so it’s critical to diagnose the condition correctly, especially in young patients.
What to do if you have symptoms?
Because the symptoms of lactose intolerance are quite general, it is important to get an accurate diagnosis before limiting dairy products in your diet.
In fact, many people who think they have lactose intolerance because they have experienced symptoms have been shown to absorb lactose normally.
Your doctor will inquire about your symptoms and medical background in order to make the diagnosis of lactose intolerance. They usually also conduct a physical examination and ask for diagnostic tests.
Doctors often use the hydrogen breath test to diagnose lactose intolerance. This test involves ingesting a standard dose of lactose and testing for high levels of hydrogen in your breath, caused by bacteria that ferment lactose in your colon.
Because the hydrogen breath test is sensitive to factors other than lactose, it is possible to have a false positive result or a false negative result. This implies that if you do not have lactose intolerance, the test may yield a positive result; if you do, it may yield a negative result.
Some estimates suggest that false negatives occur in up to 20% of cases. Even so, the hydrogen breath test is still considered a useful tool for diagnosing lactose intolerance. To ensure an accurate result, it is important to carefully follow your doctor’s instructions when preparing for the test.
Your doctor will consider your medical history and symptoms when interpreting your test results and, if necessary, may order other tests to confirm the diagnosis or rule out other conditions.
Lactose intolerance is defined by the presence of reported symptoms and depends on a person’s sensitivity to the effects of malabsorption, as well as the amount of lactose in the diet.
The usual approach to treating lactose intolerance is to limit or stay away from foods high in lactose, such as milk, soft and processed cheeses, cream, and ice cream.
Even so, individuals who are lactose intolerant can frequently handle up to one cup (240 ml) of milk, particularly if it is consumed throughout the day. This equates to 12-15 grams (0.4-0.5 ounces) of lactose.
Additionally, people often tolerate fermented milk products like yogurt and some cheeses better, so these foods can help people meet their calcium needs without causing symptoms.
The bottom line:
Up to 70% of people worldwide suffer from lactose intolerance, making it a widespread condition.
Stomach pain, bloating, diarrhea, gas, nausea, and vomiting are among the most typical symptoms.
Other symptoms, such as headache, fatigue and eczema, have been reported, but these are rarer and not well defined. Occasionally, people confuse lactose intolerance for milk allergy symptoms like rashes and itching.
A hydrogen breath test can help identify whether lactose malabsorption is the cause of your lactose intolerance symptoms or if there is another factor at play.
Treatment involves reducing or eliminating sources of lactose from the diet, including milk, cream and ice cream. Many lactose intolerant individuals, however, are able to consume up to one cup (240 ml) of milk without developing any symptoms.
Individual differences in symptom severity make it critical to determine the appropriate dairy consumption level.