Lactose Intolerance

Introduction: Lactose Intolerance

Lactose intolerance is a difficulty properly digesting lactose (milk sugar) and the various dairy products that contain lactose. It is very common with an estimated 30-50 million Americans affected, especially African Americans, Native Americans, and Mexican Americans. Lactose intolerance causes various digestive symptoms, usually after meals, including cramps, bloating, gas, and diarrhea.

Symptoms of Lactose Intolerance

• Symptoms after meals
• Nausea
• Abdominal cramps
• Abdominal bloating
• Gas

See full list of 7 symptoms of Lactose Intolerance

Diagnostic Tests for Lactose Intolerance

• Lactose tolerance test
• Hydrogen breath test
• Stool acidity test

Read more about tests for Lactose Intolerance

Wrongly Diagnosed with Lactose Intolerance?

• Misdiagnosis of Lactose Intolerance
• Underlying causes of Lactose Intolerance (possibly wrongly diagnosed)

Misdiagnosis and Lactose Intolerance

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Read more about Misdiagnosis and Lactose Intolerance

Causes of Lactose Intolerance

• Chronic digestive diseases
• Crohn's disease
• Gastroenteritis
• Inflammatory bowel diseases
• Intestinal injury

Read more about causes of Lactose Intolerance

More information about causes of Lactose Intolerance:

• Underlying causes of Lactose Intolerance
• Lactose Intolerance as a symptom

Treatments for Lactose Intolerance

• Low-lactose diet
• Lactose-reduced milk
• Milk-free diet
• Dairy-free diet - avoiding all dairy products, not just milk
• Lactase enzyme pills

See full list of 9 treatments for Lactose Intolerance

Videos for Lactose Intolerance

Patient Surveys for Lactose Intolerance

• Patient Profile Survey
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• Survey about the symptoms of your Lactose Intolerance
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Prognosis for Lactose Intolerance

Prognosis for Lactose Intolerance: Excellent. Well controlled through dietary changes.

More about prognosis of Lactose Intolerance

Reseach about Lactose Intolerance

Visit our research pages for current research about Lactose Intolerance treatments.

Clinical Trials for Lactose Intolerance

The US based website ClinicalTrials.gov lists information on both federally and privately supported clinical trials using human volunteers.

Some of the clinical trials listed on ClinicalTrials.gov for Lactose Intolerance include:

• Amount of Lactose Causing Symptoms in Lactose Intolerant People - This study is not yet open for patient recruitment (Current: 23 Nov 2006)
• Prevalence of Lactose Intolerance Following Stem Cell Transplantation. - This study is not yet open for patient recruitment (Current: 23 Nov 2006)

Read more about Clinical Trials for Lactose Intolerance

Statistics for Lactose Intolerance

• Medical statistics for Lactose Intolerance
• Prevalence and incidence statistics for Lactose Intolerance
• Death and Mortality statistics for Lactose Intolerance
• Society statistics for Lactose Intolerance

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Read about other experiences, ask a question about Lactose Intolerance, or answer someone else's question, on our message boards:

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Article Excerpts about Lactose Intolerance

Lactose Intolerance: NIDDK (Excerpt)

Lactose intolerance is the inability to digest significant amounts of lactose, the predominant sugar of milk. This inability results from a shortage of the enzyme lactase, which is normally produced by the cells that line the small intestine. (Source: excerpt from Lactose Intolerance: NIDDK)

Why Does Milk Bother Me: NIDDK (Excerpt)

Lactose intolerance means that you cannot digest foods with lactose in them. Lactose is the sugar found in milk and foods made with milk. (Source: excerpt from Why Does Milk Bother Me: NIDDK)

Food Allergy and Intolerances, NIAID Fact Sheet: NIAID (Excerpt)

Another cause of food intolerance that is often confused with a food allergy is lactase deficiency. This most common food intolerance affects at least one out of ten people. Lactase is an enzyme that is in the lining of the gut. This enzyme degrades lactose, which is in milk. If a person does not have enough lactase, the body cannot digest the lactose in most milk products. Instead, the lactose is used by bacteria, gas is formed, and the person experiences bloating, abdominal pain, and sometimes diarrhea. There are a couple of diagnostic tests in which the patient ingests a specific amount of lactose and then the doctor measures the body's response by analyzing a blood sample. (Source: excerpt from Food Allergy and Intolerances, NIAID Fact Sheet: NIAID)

Lactose Intolerance: NWHIC (Excerpt)

Lactose intolerance is a condition in which the body is not able to easily digest foods that contain lactose, or the natural sugar that is found in dairy products. Once lactose is in the body, it needs to be broken down into two simple sugars, glucose and galactose, to be absorbed into the blood stream. People who are lactose intolerant have a shortage of lactase enzymes that break down lactose into these sugars. (Source: excerpt from Lactose Intolerance: NWHIC)

Definitions of Lactose Intolerance:

The condition resulting from the absence or deficiency of LACTASE in the MUCOSA cells of the GASTROINTESTINAL TRACT, and the inability to break down LACTOSE in milk for ABSORPTION. Bacterial fermentation of the unabsorbed lactose leads to symptoms that range from a mild indigestion (DYSPEPSIA) to severe DIARRHEA. Lactose intolerance may be an inborn error or acquired. - (Source - Diseases Database)

Congenital disorder consisting of an inability to digest milk and milk products; absence or deficiency of lactase results in an inability to hydrolyze lactose - (Source - WordNet 2.1)