Lactose Intolerance

Lactose Intolerance: Introduction

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
• more symptoms...»

See full list of 7 symptoms of Lactose Intolerance

Lactose Intolerance: Complications

Read more about complications of Lactose Intolerance.

Diagnostic Tests for Lactose Intolerance

• Lactose tolerance test
• Hydrogen breath test
• Stool acidity test
• more tests...»

Read more about tests for Lactose Intolerance

Wrongly Diagnosed with Lactose Intolerance?

• Misdiagnosis of Lactose Intolerance
• Failure to diagnose Lactose Intolerance
• Hidden causes of Lactose Intolerance (possibly wrongly diagnosed)
• Undiagnosed: Lactose Intolerance

Misdiagnosis and Lactose Intolerance

Vitamin B12 deficiency under-diagnosed: The condition of Vitamin B12 deficiency is a possible misdiagnosis of various conditions, such as multiple sclerosis (see symptoms of multiple sclerosis). See symptoms of Vitamin B12 deficiency or misdiagnosis of multiple sclerosis....read more »

Read more about Misdiagnosis and Lactose Intolerance

Causes of Lactose Intolerance

• Chronic digestive diseases
• Crohn's disease
• Gastroenteritis
• Inflammatory bowel diseases
• Intestinal injury
• more causes...»

See full list of 8 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
• more treatments...»

See full list of 9 treatments for Lactose Intolerance

Latest Treatments for Lactose Intolerance

• Lactase
• Lactaid
• Lactrase
• more treatments...»

Read more about the latest treatments for Lactose Intolerance

News Archives for Lactose Intolerance

Medical news articles related to Lactose Intolerance include:

• Health Tip: Living With Lactose Intolerance
• Health Tip: Finding Hidden Lactose
• Low-Fat Milk OK for Some Toddlers
• Health Tip: Getting Calcium If You're Lactose Intolerant
• Whole Milk Cheaper, Effective Contrast Agent for GI Scans
• more health news...»

Source: HealthDay News

Evidence Based Medicine Research for Lactose Intolerance

Medical research articles related to Lactose Intolerance include:

• How do I diagnose and treat lactose-intolerance in adults?
• Irritable bowel syndrome in adults: diagnosis and management of irritable bowel syndrome in primary care
• A lady with a stool sample +ve for giardia was treated with metronidazole. her symptoms have resolved but her stool still has cysts in it. Can cysts remain after treatment or is further treatment required?
• Is there a definitive list or guideline that helps identify all lactose-free medicines?
• Which antidepressants are available in lactose-free formulations?
• Is there evidence that food intolerance, specifically lactose intolerance, causes or worsens symptoms of tinnitus?
• How long should an alternative milk such as 'pepti' be used for a baby with secondary lactose intolerance following gastroenteritis?
• Updated clinical practice guidelines for the prevention and treatment of mucositis.
• more research...»

Click here to find more evidence-based articles on the TRIP Database

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)
• more trials...»

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

Lactose Intolerance: Broader Related Topics

• Digestive Diseases
• Food intolerances
• Under-diagnosed conditions
• more types...»

Types of Lactose Intolerance

Stories from Users Related to Lactose Intolerance

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• 2 and a half yr old diagnosed lactose intolerant
• lactose intolerance?
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User Interactive Forums

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

• I can not get a diagnosis. Please help.
• Tell us your medical story.
• Share your misdiagnosis story.
• What is the best treatment for this?
• See all the forums.

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)