Lactose intolerance is a condition in which our body does not produce enough of an enzyme called lactase. The function of this enzyme is to break down the lactose present in milk or dairy products and convert it into two types of sugar, glucose and galactose. The human body then absorbs these sugars through the intestine.

When there is a deficiency of the lactase enzyme, it cannot properly break down or absorb lactose. This is when lactose intolerance occurs. The most concerning thing is that lactose intolerance cannot be treated with any medicine (What is Lactose Intolerance?). Therefore, in such cases, dairy products need to be avoided. But this can lead to another problem, which is calcium deficiency in the body. Milk is a major source of calcium. Therefore, in this situation, foods that are rich in calcium should be included in the diet. This is because when the amount of calcium in the body starts decreasing, brain function may be affected, along with various bone-related problems. In particular, there may be an increased risk of diseases such as osteoporosis.

Are Lactose Intolerance and Milk Allergy the Same?

No, they are not the same. Many parents confuse the two. Lactose intolerance is a digestive problem, whereas milk allergy indicates a problem related to the immune system. Therefore, they are two different conditions. Lactose intolerance does not usually lead to a serious life-threatening problem.

If milk allergy is not properly treated, it can cause a life  threatening condition called anaphylactic shock. Therefore, if a child develops swollen lips or itching after consuming milk or anything made from milk, it may indicate a milk allergy.

Milk allergy usually becomes noticeable during the first year of a child's life. Lactose intolerance, however, is relatively uncommon from birth in children.

Types of Lactose Intolerance

1. Primary Lactose Intolerance

If this problem is detected after a person grows older or during adolescence, it is called primary lactose intolerance. Primary lactose intolerance is the most common type, in which the body's ability to process lactase gradually decreases.

2. Secondary Lactose Intolerance

In the case of secondary lactose intolerance, milk may become difficult to tolerate after a bacterial or viral infection, surgery, or a prolonged illness.

3. Congenital Lactose Intolerance

This is a very rare condition in which a baby is unable to tolerate milk from birth. The baby may experience pain, diarrhea, or vomiting after consuming milk. This condition is caused by a genetic problem. The child may inherit the condition from the father or mother, resulting in very little or no lactase production in the body.

Breast milk contains lactose, and even lactose-containing formula can cause diarrhea in babies with this condition. This type of lactose intolerance can become serious because dehydration caused by diarrhea and electrolyte imbalance can put the child's life at risk.

4. Developmental Lactose Intolerance

Another reason for lactose intolerance may be premature birth. Normally, the lactase enzyme begins to develop in the body from around 34 weeks of pregnancy. If this development is disrupted, there may be a tendency toward lactose intolerance later.

Causes of Lactose Intolerance

1. Lactose is present in the milk of all mammals. The lactase enzyme is required to properly digest lactose in the digestive system. When this enzyme is produced below a certain level, lactose intolerance may occur.

2. Food is digested in the intestine. If there is a problem with the intestine, lactose intolerance can also occur. Sometimes, when diarrhea occurs due to a rotavirus infection, the digestive capacity of the intestine decreases. As a result, milk and dairy products may not be properly digested.

3. Lactose intolerance may occur in association with certain physical conditions. Doctors mention several diseases in this regard, such as Crohn's disease and celiac disease. If a young child suffers from these problems, the production of the lactase enzyme may decrease significantly. As a result, milk and other dairy products may not be properly digested in the child's digestive system.

4. Sometimes lactose intolerance may occur due to genetic factors. This can be understood by checking whether the parents or other close relatives have the condition. Like some other genetic characteristics, this condition can also be passed on to a child through genes.

Treatment and Management of Lactose Intolerance

There is no specific medicine for lactose intolerance. Reducing or completely avoiding lactose-containing foods is the main way to manage the condition and improve symptoms.

● Make a habit of reading food labels

If a child has severe lactose intolerance, always read the label of any packaged food before giving it to the child. Lactose may be present in foods other than milk, cheese, and ice cream. Therefore, carefully check the ingredients listed on the package to see whether it contains casein, lactose, milk, or related ingredients.

● Check the ingredients of medicines

Some medicines may contain lactose. Therefore, before giving a child any necessary medicine or purchasing medicine from a pharmacy, check the label to see whether it contains lactose.

● Choose foods with lower amounts of lactose

Since milk contains a relatively high amount of lactose, it may cause more digestive difficulties for some children. Cheese generally contains less lactose. Ice cream contains a moderate amount of lactose. The bacteria present in homemade yogurt can help break down some of the lactose in yogurt. Therefore, yogurt may be better tolerated by some children.

The right food choices should be made according to the child's individual level of lactose tolerance.

What to Do in Lactose Intolerance

1. Avoiding dairy products can lead to nutritional deficiencies. Therefore, healthy alternatives should be included in the diet.

2. Cheese may be included in the diet because people with lactose intolerance can often tolerate cheese well.

3. The same may apply to butter and cream because they contain relatively low amounts of lactose. Yogurt may also help provide energy and nutrition because the bacteria in yogurt reduce some of the lactose.

4. Soy-based foods such as soy milk are commonly used as alternatives to dairy products. However, soy-based foods may not provide exactly the same nutritional profile as milk.

Foods that can be consumed include lactose-free milk, soy milk, almond milk, fruit juice, lettuce, broccoli, oranges, nuts, marine fish, small fish eaten with bones, dried fish, mustard greens, all types of pulses, coriander leaves, drumstick leaves, poppy seeds, pumpkin seeds, bean seeds, turnip, wood apple, dates, and mineral water. These are some calcium-containing foods.

If you have lactose intolerance, trying different ways of consuming milk may provide benefits.

Follow These Tips for Lactose Intolerance

1. Consume half the amount of milk that you would normally drink.

2. Consume milk together with roti, puffed rice, biscuits, bread, flattened rice, popped rice, semai, semolina, sago, etc.

3. For children, adding glucose to soy milk may be helpful.

4. Adding cocoa to milk may break down the lactose and may reduce discomfort.

5. Yogurt or buttermilk may be easier to digest because they contain lactic acid.

Once lactose intolerance develops in adults, it may remain lifelong. However, in children, it is often temporary. It may continue for several months. If lactose intolerance occurs in a young child, the child should be taken to a doctor and kept under medical supervision.