Education

Lactose, a natural sugar found in milk and products made from milk, is digested in the body by an enzyme known as lactase.  If a person does not produce sufficient amounts of lactase, lactose can be difficult to digest.  In some people, this problem results in a condition known as lactose intolerance.

A deficiency in lactase usually is hereditary and develops slowly from early childhood. Although lactase levels may be low, the symptoms of lactose intolerance may not appear until adolescence or adulthood.  In other cases, lactase deficiency can be due to other conditions, such as an intestinal disease or chemotherapy.  Symptoms of lactose intolerance can range from nonexistent or mild to serious discomfort.  Common complaints include bloating, gas, nausea, abdominal pain, and diarrhea after eating foods that contain milk or milk products.  Lactose intolerance can mimic many other conditions that cause similar symptoms.

As a result, it should be diagnosed by a doctor, who may begin by eliminating all milk and milk products from the diet for a period of time to look for improvement.  The diagnosis can be confirmed in adults with a hydrogen breath test.

Treatment is aimed at reducing symptoms by lowering or eliminating the amount of lactose in the diet.  This includes avoiding the wide variety of processed foods that contain milk and milk products as stabilizers.  Even OTC and prescription medications may contain lactose as inactive ingredients.  If foods that contain lactose are eliminated and symptoms continue, a doctor could recommend supplementing the diet with nonprescription lactase enzyme tablets or drops. Avoiding milk and dairy products may mean that people who are lactose-intolerant require calcium and vitamin D supplementation.

Source: US Pharm. 2010;35(12):17-18

For more information on lactose intolerance education and products, ask our pharmacists Steve Adkins and Jennifer Pippin.