Lactose intolerance. What is it?

Milk is a tasty and healthy product. But with an increased sensitivity of the body to lactose, one of the main components of milk, it causes significant harm to a person. If the enzyme that breaks down milk - lactase, is absent in the body or is present in small quantities, then complete or partial lactose intolerance occurs. This condition is called lactase deficiency. 

What can happen in this case?

• liquid stool;
• rumbling and bloating;
• general discomfort; nausea, often with bouts of vomiting;
• pain and cramps (with complete lactose intolerance).

Children can have:

• vomiting after eating;
• capriciousness;
• loss of appetite.

In most cases, symptoms of lactase deficiency appear within 30 minutes to 2 hours after consuming dairy products. But lactase deficiency isn't the only culprit behind lactose hypersensitivity. There are several basic conditions of the body in which similar symptoms can occur, each of them needs its own laboratory diagnostic technique:

1. Lactose deficiency - When examining lactase deficiency, the following are examined: genetic predisposition (genotype) and carbohydrate content in feces, that is, the body's ability to digest milk sugar.

2. Allergy to milk - In case of an allergy, specific Ig E antibodies to milk are determined.

3. Food intolerance to lactose, not associated with either lactase deficiency or allergy - In food intolerance, Ig G4 antibodies to lactose are detected.
More information on our websiteIf you have confirmed one of the conditions of hypersensitivity to lactose, then you must refuse milk (for food intolerance - temporarily) and be sure to consult a doctor! In order for the body not to suffer from a lack of calcium, you need to include the following foods in the diet: broccoli and kale, canned tuna, salmon, sardines, soy products, cereals, almonds.

Be healthy!