Lactose Intolerance Symptoms: You Should Know These 9 Things
An intolerance often triggers unpleasant complaints. Which lactose intolerance symptoms you should know about is what we’ll tell you here.
This is behind a lactose intolerance
Milk and dairy products contain lactose (milk sugar). The enzyme lactase in the human intestine normally breaks down this double sugar into its individual sugars. In some people lactase is either not produced enough or not produced at all. Then the milk sugar cannot be broken down and passes unchanged from the small intestine into the large intestine. There, bacteria decompose the lactose – and the resulting waste products cause unpleasant symptoms for the person concerned.
Lactose intolerance symptoms
Lactose intolerance is usually accompanied by unpleasant consequences, which and how severe the complaints are is individual. Symptoms can be:
- Loud bowel sounds
- Nausea
- Feeling of fullness
- Expanded stomach
- Abdominal pain
- Flatulence
- Cramps
- Diarrhoea
- Vomiting
Other unspecific symptoms such as headaches, fatigue or concentration problems can also occur.
In some patients, only little lactase is produced in the small intestine, in others no lactase at all, so the tolerance of lactose varies greatly. The meal itself and its lactose content also plays a role in tolerance. It is quite possible that someone tolerates small amounts of lactose throughout the day. This should not be forgotten: Symptoms can occur with a time delay, i.e. even after hours of consumption.
Lactose intolerance
Lactose intolerance (also abbreviated LI) is differentiated between primary and secondary:
Primary lactose intolerance is a genetically determined lactase deficiency, because after weaning the child’s lactase production decreases. However, protective mutations that store lactase were already formed 7,500 years ago in areas with massive dairy farming. Anyone who does not carry this gene variant will continue to lose enzyme production over time.
Secondary lactose intolerance is caused by another disease (e.g. an autoimmune disease such as Crohn’s disease, but also severe gastrointestinal influenza) and usually subsides as soon as the inflammation in the intestine subsides.
A third form, congenital lactose intolerance, occurs in babies after a short time. They can no longer tolerate any lactose, including breast milk. However, this LI is very rare.
Diagnosis
If the symptoms persist, a doctor should be consulted, the first step being the family doctor. The symptoms that occur can also have a cause other than intolerance. The following methods can be used to diagnose lactose intolerance:
- Diet test
- Hydrogen breath test (H2 breath test)
- Lactose tolerance test
- Genetic test
A correct diagnosis is also important in order to exclude milk allergy, which must be treated differently, especially in terms of diet. In this case, dairy products must be avoided completely.
Nutrition with LI
If lactose intolerance has been diagnosed, the person concerned should change his or her diet to avoid further physical discomfort. Instead of resorting to milk and dairy products that naturally contain lactose, lactose-free products can be used. This has the advantage that the body is supplied with sufficient calcium. Lactose-free food is usually labelled as such and is available in many grocery stores.
Lactase products (powder, capsule, tablet) that supply the body with lactase are also available in pharmacies. This can help people who eat out and don’t know what’s in the food – or who simply feel like having ice cream.
However, people with this intolerance should also keep an eye on their medication, as it may well contain lactose! A look at the list of ingredients also helps with ready-made meals.