Hello everyone, Dr. Prasoon here, and I’m delighted to welcome you back to Dofody, your trusted digital health partner in Kerala.
Today, I want to delve into a topic that affects a significant number of individuals, often causing discomfort and impacting daily life: lactose intolerance. It’s a condition I frequently discuss with patients, and recently, I had an insightful online consultation with a dance teacher who was navigating her journey with lactose intolerance treatment. She had already taken proactive steps by restricting lactose in her diet but was seeking further options to manage her symptoms effectively. This interaction highlighted the importance of comprehensive understanding and the availability of newer treatment avenues.
Understanding Lactose Intolerance: More Than Just a Tummy Ache
So, what exactly is lactose intolerance? Simply put, it’s the inability to fully digest lactose, a sugar predominantly found in milk and dairy products. This occurs due to a deficiency of an enzyme called lactase, which is normally produced in your small intestine. Lactase’s job is to break down lactose into simpler sugars (glucose and galactose) that can be easily absorbed into your bloodstream.
When there isn’t enough lactase, undigested lactose passes into the colon (large intestine). There, bacteria interact with the undigested lactose, leading to a host of uncomfortable symptoms. These can vary in severity from person to person but commonly include:
- Bloating: A feeling of fullness and tightness in the abdomen.
- Abdominal pain and cramps: Discomfort that can range from mild to severe.
- Flatulence (gas): Increased production of gas.
- Diarrhea: Loose, watery stools.
- Sometimes, nausea and vomiting can also occur.
These symptoms typically begin 30 minutes to two hours after consuming food or drinks containing lactose. The severity often depends on the amount of lactose consumed and the individual’s level of lactase deficiency. It’s crucial to distinguish lactose intolerance from a milk allergy, which is an immune system response to milk proteins and can have more severe, systemic symptoms.
For a general overview of what happens in your body with lactose intolerance, this video provides a clear explanation
Diagnosing Lactose Intolerance: Getting to the Root Cause
While a dietary history and symptom assessment are important starting points, a formal diagnosis can provide clarity and guide treatment. One of the common diagnostic tools we use is the lactose hydrogen breath test. This test measures the amount of hydrogen in your breath after you consume a lactose-containing drink. If lactose isn’t digested properly, intestinal bacteria will ferment it, producing hydrogen, which is then absorbed into your bloodstream, transported to your lungs, and exhaled. Higher than normal levels of hydrogen in your breath can indicate lactose intolerance.
Other diagnostic methods include the lactose tolerance test (which measures blood glucose response to lactose) and, in some specific cases, a small bowel biopsy (though this is less common for isolated lactose intolerance).
Navigating Treatment: From Diet to Advanced Options
The good news is that lactose intolerance can be managed effectively, allowing individuals to lead comfortable lives.
- Dietary Management: The cornerstone of managing lactose intolerance has traditionally been adopting a low-lactose diet. This involves reducing or eliminating foods high in lactose, such as milk, ice cream, soft cheeses, and cream. Many individuals can still tolerate small amounts of lactose, and some dairy products, like hard cheeses (cheddar, swiss) and yogurt with live active cultures, are often better tolerated because they contain less lactose or the bacteria in them help break it down. Lactose-free milk and dairy products are also widely available now.
- Lactase Supplements: For those who find it difficult to completely avoid lactose or wish to enjoy dairy products occasionally, lactase enzyme supplements can be very helpful. These are available over-the-counter as tablets or drops and are taken just before consuming dairy. They provide the lactase enzyme your body is lacking, helping to break down lactose and prevent symptoms.
- Probiotics: Recent advancements have also highlighted the potential benefits of specific probiotics. Certain strains, such as Bifidobacterium animalis and Lactobacillus acidophilus, have shown promise in alleviating the symptoms of lactose intolerance. These beneficial bacteria may help in the digestion of lactose in the colon or modulate the gut environment to reduce symptom severity.
In the video below, I discuss the complexities of lactose intolerance, including these treatment options, drawing from my experiences, including the recent consultation with the dance teacher I mentioned earlier. We delve into how to navigate diagnosis and the practical application of these treatments.
Personalized Care is Key
Understanding lactose intolerance empowers you to take control of your symptoms and significantly enhance your quality of life. It’s not just about restricting your diet; it’s about finding a balanced approach that works for you. This might involve careful dietary adjustments, the strategic use of lactase supplements, or the incorporation of specific probiotics.
If you’ve been experiencing symptoms suggestive of lactose intolerance, or if you’re looking for personalized advice and prescriptions for treatments like lactase supplements or specific probiotics, I encourage you to seek professional guidance. At Dofody, we are committed to providing tailored healthcare solutions. You can easily book an online consultation with me or one of our other experienced healthcare professionals. We can discuss your specific situation, explore diagnostic options if needed, and develop a personalized management plan to help you feel your best.
Don’t let lactose intolerance dictate your life. With the right knowledge and support, you can manage it effectively.
Stay informed, stay healthy, and remember Dofody is here to support your health journey in Kerala.
Warm regards,
Dr. Prasoon.