Content

• Steps
• Method 1 of 2: Symptoms of Lactose Intolerance
• Method 2 of 2: Confirming the Diagnosis
• Tips
• Warnings

Lactose intolerance is the inability to metabolize lactose, which is the main sugar found in milk and dairy products. Lactose intolerance is caused by the complete absence or lack of lactase, an enzyme necessary for the breakdown of lactose in the small intestine. This condition is not life threatening, but it can cause upset stomach and intestinal discomfort (bloating, pain, flatulence) and limit food choices. Many adults are lactose intolerant and have no other medical conditions. However, remember that some diseases can cause problems with the gastrointestinal tract, so it is very important to distinguish the symptoms of these diseases from those of lactose intolerance.

Steps

Method 1 of 2: Symptoms of Lactose Intolerance

1. 1 Pay attention to gastrointestinal symptoms. As with other medical conditions, it is sometimes difficult to know if your feelings are unusual. For example, if a person always experiences discomfort after eating, he considers this to be his normal state, and it seems to him that everything is exactly the same for everyone. However, bloating, flatulence, cramps, nausea or diarrhea after eating are not normal - all of these symptoms indicate gastrointestinal problems. Many diseases of the gastrointestinal tract have similar symptoms, so the diagnosis is sometimes difficult. To begin with, you must acknowledge that your post-meal sensations are not normal and can be prevented.
   • Lactase breaks down lactose into two simpler sugars, glucose and galactose, which are absorbed in the small intestine and used by the body as energy sources.
   • Not all people with lactose intolerance have symptoms of stomach or intestinal problems. Their bodies produce small amounts of lactase, which is enough to digest dairy products.
2. 2 Try to analyze the relationship of symptoms to dairy consumption. The main symptoms of lactose intolerance (bloating, abdominal pain, flatulence, diarrhea) usually appear 30–120 minutes after eating or drinking lactose-containing beverages. Therefore, you should try to find a link between symptoms and dairy consumption. Eat a lactose-free breakfast in the morning (read the ingredients on the package if you are not sure) and assess how you feel. Eat something with lactose during the day, such as cheese, yogurt, and / or milk. If you notice a significant change in sensation, you probably have lactose intolerance.
   • If your stomach is bloated and gas is produced after both meals, it means that you most likely have a stomach or intestinal problem (such as intestinal inflammation or Crohn's disease).
   • If you feel good after both meals, chances are that you have a food allergy or intolerance to another food.
   • This method is commonly referred to as the elimination diet: you eliminate dairy from your diet to determine which substances are causing the reaction.
3. 3 Distinguish between lactose intolerance and milk allergy. Lactose intolerance is a condition caused by a lack of enzymes that causes undigested sugar (lactose) to build up in the large intestine. When it gets there, the bacteria in the intestines begin to consume sugar and produce hydrogen and some methane, which causes bloating and flatulence.Milk allergy is an abnormal reaction of the immune system to dairy products. Most often it occurs in the first minutes of contact with casein or whey. Symptoms of milk allergy include wheezing, severe rash, swelling of the lips, mouth, and throat, runny nose, watery eyes, vomiting, and trouble digesting food.
   • Cow's milk allergy is one of the most common allergies among children.
   • Usually cow's milk triggers the reaction, but goat's, sheep's and other mammals' milk can also cause allergies.
   • Adults with hay fever or food allergies to other foods are more prone to adverse reactions to milk.
4. 4 Find out how lactose intolerance is related to ethnicity. Although the amount of lactase in the small intestine decreases with age, its amount is also associated with genetics. In some ethnic groups, lactose intolerance is much more common. For example, about 90% of Asians and 80% of African Americans and Native Americans have this trait. Lactose intolerance is least common among northern European peoples. If you are from an ethnic group with an increased risk of this disease and experience discomfort after eating, the chances are high that you have lactose intolerance.
   • Lactose intolerance is rarely seen in infants and young children of all nationalities. This problem usually manifests itself later in life.
   • However, in premature babies, the ability to produce lactase may be reduced because the gastrointestinal tract is not yet fully formed.

Method 2 of 2: Confirming the Diagnosis

1. 1 Pass the hydrogen exhalation test. This is the most common way to test for lactose intolerance. This test is done in a hospital or health center, but it is usually only done after you try to eliminate milk from your diet. You will be asked to drink a small amount of lactose (25 grams) and then your doctor will measure the amount of hydrogen in your breath several times (every 30 minutes). A person whose body can break down lactose will produce little or no hydrogen. If a person is lactose intolerant, there will be much more hydrogen, since sugar is fermented in the intestines with the participation of bacteria that produce this gas.
   • It is a convenient way to diagnose an intolerance and gives accurate results.
   • You will have to do not smoke or eat for a while in the morning.
   • If a person consumes too much lactose, the result may be false positive due to the large amount of bacteria in the intestines.
2. 2 Get a blood test for glucose and lactose. The analysis allows you to assess the body's response to the consumption of large amounts of lactose (usually 50 grams). Fasting blood glucose is measured first, and then 1–2 hours after eating lactose. If your blood sugar does not rise by 20 grams or 1 deciliter above your fasting reading, your body is unable to digest and absorb lactose.
   • This test is an older way to diagnose lactose intolerance. It is prescribed much less frequently than breath analysis, but it can also be helpful.
   • The glucose and lactose test has a sensitivity of 75% and an accuracy of 96%.
   • A false negative result is possible with diabetes and an increased amount of bacteria in the intestine.
3. 3 Take a stool test for acidity. Undigested lactose forms lactic acid and other fatty acids in the intestines and ends up in the feces. Stool acidity testing is usually done for young children and can detect acid in the stool. The child is given a small amount of lactose and then tested several times in succession. A young child may also have glucose in the stool due to the fact that the lactose is not digested.
   • This test is suitable for children who cannot get other tests to diagnose lactose intolerance.
   • Despite the effectiveness of this test, the breath test is more commonly used because it is simpler and more convenient.

Tips

• If you can't skip milk in porridge or coffee, buy lactose-free dairy products or products with a minimum lactose content. You can replace cow's milk with soy milk or almond milk.
• Your body may be able to metabolize low-fat dairy products (such as skim milk).
• Some dairy products (such as hard cheese like cheddar) contain a small amount of lactose and do not cause discomfort after eating.
• Lactose intolerance can be temporary if a person has another gastrointestinal disorder (such as traveler's diarrhea).
• To help your body digest lactose, take lactase tablets or drops before meals.
• The following foods are high in lactose: cow's milk, milkshakes, whipped cream, coffee creamer, ice cream, sorbet, soft cheese, butter, puddings, egg and milk cream, cream and milk sauces, yoghurts.
• Some people with lactose intolerance are still able to drink a glass (240 ml = 11 g lactose) of milk daily. You can also break down your dairy intake into portions throughout the day. Some people drink 1-2 glasses of milk or an equivalent amount of cream, ice cream, or yogurt per day without significant symptoms.

Warnings

• With lactose intolerance, the same symptoms are observed as with more serious diseases of the gastrointestinal tract, so do not diagnose yourself, but see a doctor.
• If you are lactose intolerant and have eliminated dairy from your diet, it is important to get the nutrients found in dairy products. If necessary, talk to your healthcare professional and ask for advice on calcium and vitamin D supplements.