Health · Fitness & Nutrition · 3 hrs ago
Lactose intolerance can develop in adulthood as the body makes less lactase
Adults can develop lactose intolerance even after years of eating dairy without problems.
The change often happens as the small intestine makes less lactase, the enzyme that breaks down lactose, the natural sugar in milk.
When lactose is not digested, gut bacteria ferment it, which can cause bloating, gas, abdominal pain or diarrhea in the hours after eating or drinking dairy.
The condition is usually not serious, and many people can find an amount of dairy they tolerate instead of cutting it out completely.
Lactose intolerance involves digestion, while a milk allergy is an immune reaction that can cause symptoms such as hives or breathing difficulties.
A breath test can help identify lactose intolerance, and people with persistent symptoms should consult a health professional to consider other possible causes.
Lactose intolerance can develop in adulthood as the body produces less lactase, the enzyme that breaks down lactose.
Symptoms can include abdominal pain, bloating, gas and diarrhea after consuming dairy products.
Gastroenterologist Hamita Sachar said the change often becomes noticeable in a person’s 20s or 30s, but can begin later.
The condition is usually not serious, and many people can adjust how much dairy they consume rather than avoiding it entirely.
- Who
- Adults who develop difficulty digesting lactose, including people who previously consumed dairy without symptoms.
- What
- Lactose intolerance can emerge as the body produces less lactase.
- When
- It often appears in a person’s 20s or 30s, but can begin later.
- Where
- The change involves lactase production in the small intestine.
- Why
- Lower lactase production can leave lactose undigested, leading to fermentation by bacteria in the large intestine.
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- Enzyme
- Lactase breaks down lactose in the small intestine
- Common age range
- 20s and 30s
- Symptoms
- Bloating, abdominal pain, gas and diarrhea
- Test
- A breath hydrogen test can help detect lactose intolerance
What people are saying
Young people come to the consultation and say: ‘I used to drink a lot of milk and now I can hardly consume it without having to run to the bathroom’
Sources
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