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Please send all feedback to: doc@psychiatrix.com Los Angeles area residents call 818-991-8376 for appt. (Material which is speculation is in GREEN) Lactose Intolerance (LI) is the inability to break-down LACTOSE due to a deficiency of LACTASE in the small intestine. It can start in childhood and it worsens with age. Symptoms begin 15 minutes to 2 - 3 hours after ingestion of milk or other products with lactose, such as ice cream, cheese, yogurt, or certain processed foods, and include: 1. BLOATING 2. ABDOMINAL CRAMPS 3. FLATULENCE 4. DIARRHEA (often explosive, with cold sweat) (Less severe attacks may not manifest all of the above symptoms) Most adults have LI to some degree. However, it is minimal in most northern Europeans and generally the worst in Asians, African Americans, Africans, Hispanics, Native Americans, and Mediterranean people. Lactose Intolerance is NOT a Milk Allergy, but rather the relative inability to DIGEST the lactose in milk and other lactose-containing products.
DIAGNOSIS: 1. In the presence of the above symptoms, cut down or eliminate milk/lactose products. A marked improvement suggests the presence of LI. 2. Consult with a physician who may do lab tests such as lactose tolerance, exhaled hydrogen, or stool pH.
LIVING WITH LACTOSE INTOLERANCE: Lactose Intolerance is not as bad as it sounds. Most people have a relative, but not a complete, deficiency of lactase and can handle moderate amounts of lactose. The actual amount tolerated is learned by trial and error. Small amounts of milk can often be ingested safely if mixed with food. Hard cheeses, such as cheddar and parmesan, as well as yogurt are often tolerated better than milk. If necessary, non-dairy creamers can be used. LactAid brand milk (containing reduced lactose) can also be tried. Several products exist which can be added to lactose-containing foods prior to ingestion. These products break down the lactose.
PRECAUTIONS: Always consult with a physician. Lactose intolerance shares symptoms with many other gastrointestinal conditions. Also, if milk/milk products are reduced/eliminated, supplement calcium with other nutritional sources or calcium tablets, as recommended by your physician.
LACTOSE INTOLERANCE IS OFTEN MISDIAGNOSED AS IRRITABLE BOWEL SYNDROME (IBS) and ANXIETY.....although these conditions can occur together with LI. ORIGIN of LACTOSE INTOLERANCE: Historically, humans required lactase to digest milk through weaning. After that, lactase was unnecessary, except in cultures where milk/milk products were regularly consumed. In northern Europe, animals were raised for dairy products over the last 10,000's of years. Random mutation occurred allowing prolonged lactase production by the small intestine and thus allowing the digestion of milk. Other cultures, not practicing animal husbandry, did not select out this mutation. Hence they remained milk intolerant (lactase deficient) after childhood.
FURTHER INFORMATION:
VERY HELPFUL LINK: National Digestive Disorders Information Clearing House Please send all feedback to: doc@psychiatrix.com Los Angeles area residents call 818-991-8376 for appt.
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