| Lactose intolerance is the body's inability to digest | | | | Americans, and 70% of Blacks are lactose intolerant. |
| lactose-containing foods, such as milk and | | | | Lactase is an enzyme produced in the small intestine |
| milk-products. There are three types of lactose | | | | and is responsible for the breakdown of lactose, the |
| intolerance: | | | | major milk sugar. As the undigested lactose passes |
| - Primary lactose intolerance: It is experienced when | | | | from the small intestine into the colon, certain |
| the body decreases production of lactase with age. | | | | bacteria found there break down lactose and in the |
| - Secondary lactose intolerance: It is experienced as a | | | | process produce gases, hydrogen and/or methane. |
| result of illness. | | | | These gases are absorbed by the bloodstream that |
| - Congenital lactose intolerance: It is hereditary and | | | | carries them to the lungs. That's why some people |
| very rare when a baby is born with lactose | | | | with lactose intolerance might have bad breath! |
| intolerance | | | | How is lactose intolerance managed? |
| This article will focus on primary lactose intolerance | | | | Lactose intolerance is easily managed through dietary |
| resulting from a decreased production of lactase. This | | | | manipulation. Avoidance of foods with lactose will |
| decrease in lactase production appears to be | | | | result in symptom resolution. To assure appropriate |
| genetically programmed. For example, although almost | | | | amount of calcium in the diet, it is crucial to include in |
| all Oriental people are lactose intolerant, they may | | | | the diet calcium-rich products, such as calcium-fortified |
| tolerate dairy products in childhood. However, they | | | | lactose-free milk, soymilk, or calcium-fortified juices. |
| might begin to develop symptoms of lactose | | | | Most lactose intolerant people can tolerate some |
| intolerance by 5 years of age. In genetically | | | | lactose in their diet. Therefore, they should find out |
| predisposed African American children, lactose | | | | through trial and error the acceptable amount of |
| intolerance develops by 10 years of age, and in | | | | dairy and include it in their diet. Studies show that |
| Caucasian people by young adulthood. | | | | dietary lactose enhances calcium absorption, and |
| Approximately 70% of the world's population has | | | | conversely, lactose-free diets result in lower calcium |
| primary lactase deficiency. The prevalence varies | | | | absorption. Thus, daily consumption of the tolerable |
| according to ethnicity, as well as the availability of | | | | amount of dairy is crucial to the optimal bone health. |
| dairy products in the diet. In populations with an | | | | Those who react to small amounts of lactose may |
| abundance of milk products in the diet, especially | | | | try a lactase enzyme available over-the-counter. It is |
| among people of Northern Europe, the incidence of | | | | available in tablets and drops and is taken with the |
| lactose intolerance may be as low as 2%, while | | | | first bite of the lactose-rich food. |
| nearly 100% of the Asian population, 80% of Native | | | | |