How to determine intolerance to lactose, milk in adults and children? Symptoms, signs, causes and treatment of lactose intolerance

Lactose is a carbohydrate contained in many foods. Once in the body, it with the help of enzymes is split into simpler substances: glucose and galactose. The main enzyme responsible for the splitting of this disaccharide is lactase. If it is synthesized in small quantities, it can lead to big problems.

In people with such a disease, about half an hour after eating products that contain milk sugar, sharp pains, increased formation of gases or diarrhea in the intestines may appear.

The severity of the symptoms depends on the amount of lactase production. The less this enzyme is produced by the mucous membrane of the small intestine, the harder the manifestation of the “intolerance” of this carbohydrate.

Important: with a slight deficiency of enzymes involved in the process of splitting milk sugar, the above symptoms of “intolerance” of this carbohydrate may not appear.

Milk intolerance, lactose: symptoms, causes

Symptoms of this problem can be expressed individually in each person

Moreover, in the same person, they can also manifest itself differently. It depends on the amount of milk sugar that has entered the body, on the features of the products used and other factors.

The first symptoms of this ailment appear when milk sugar reaches the intestines. With a lack of enzymes that split it, appears:

• Flatulence
• Sharp pain in the abdomen
• Diarrhea (less often constipation)
• Characteristic "rumbling" in the stomach
• Bloating

Sometimes vomiting is added to the above symptoms. But, this symptom is quite rare. It can appear when eating a large amount of dairy products.

In a child who suffers from such a disease, the above symptoms can appear almost immediately after eating dairy products. This is due to the peculiarity of the gastrointestinal tract of children.

If the infants suffer from an intolerance to lactose, then he can be added to the above symptoms: anxiety, moodiness and frequent regurgitation. Also, the baby may begin to push often.

Important: lactose is necessary for the intestines to propagate bacteria in it, responsible for the immune system. In children, and less often in adults who exclude this milk sugar from their nutrition, there may be a breakdown, weakness, drowsiness and frequent manifestation of colds.

To date, the main causes of lactose intolerance are:

1. Genetics. One of the genes in the DNA chain is responsible for the production of lactase. He can “reduce” the rate of production of this enzyme. Which will lead to its disadvantage and the manifestation of the above problem
2. Acute intestinal infections. Lactase is produced in the membranes of the intestine. With infections, as well as when taking various medicines, the intestinal shell may begin to collapse. Which will lead to a lack of development of enzymes involved in the breakdown of lactose
3. Celiac disease. A pathology that leads to intolerance to some food proteins. For example, gluten. He, falling into the intestines in an unchanged (not processed) form, can damage the intestinal villings. STO is also the cause of insufficient production of lactase

As modern studies show, allergies to milk proteins, although it is not directly related to lactose intolerance, can become one of the causes of negative processes in the body, which can also lead to a lack of production of enzymes involved in dairy sugar processing.

Important: lactose is an important substance for the body. It is it that gives the viscosity of the saliva and enhances the process of assimilation of calcium. Moreover, recent studies link lactose and the process of developing vitamins of group B.

How to determine lactose intolerance in newborn and infants?

In breast milk, proteins, fats, vitamins, minerals, irreplaceable acids and other beneficial compounds are collected for the children's body.

Not one manufacturer of artificial feeding mixtures cannot and closely get to the unique composition of breast milk. But, for children suffering from lactose intolerance, you cannot eat such milk.

Important: since the mother’s milk is the basis for the nutrition of a baby, lactase failure can be a serious problem. And the problems with the intestines are only the tip of the iceberg. If the children's body cannot process milk sugar, then the child can be in development.

There are two types of intolerance by a child of lactose:

Primary. Lack of lactase synthesis or lack of production of this enzyme by a children's body. The causes of primary intolerance to lactose are:

• Not finally formed gastrointestinal tract
• Genetic disorders
• Excessive production of enzymes that break down milk sugar

Secondary causes Lactose intolerance in a child:

• Inflammation of the intestinal mucosa
• Intestinal infections
• Allergy to gluten and milk proteins

Important: lactose is a substance necessary for the development of the central nervous system of the child. In the body of adults, milk sugar also positively affects the nervous system. Not so long ago, scientists have found that lactose helps the body to prevent cardiovascular diseases.

You can determine lactose intolerance in children using such tests:

• Test of the intestinal mucosa (biopsy). Using such a procedure, with a probability of 99.99%, determine the presence of the described illness. But due to injuries, it is practically not used in the treatment of children
• Oral input of lactose. After that, using blood tests, pathology is determined. As well as a biopsy, this procedure in child treatment is used very rarely
• Analysis of feces. In children's treatment, lactose intolerance is used most often. But, such an analysis has the smallest truthfulness
• Calais analysis for the amount and level of fatty acids (coprograms). If these indicators are exceeded by the norm, it is possible to determine the described illness with a high probability

In our country, the treatment of lactose intolerance in children is carried out only if analysis for carbohydrates, coprograms and clinical signs indicate this ailment.

Genetic intolerance to lactose

Lactose intolerance can also have a genetic factor

It was so established that representatives of the Caucasian race less often have a lack of enzymes processing lactose. But the representatives of the Asian race, this problem is quite common.

Important: it has been established that over the years, lactase production is reduced. About 90% of Chinese children by 3-4 years suffer from lactose intolerance. In white Europeans, it is produced in the same form by only 25 years. And among the northern peoples: the Swedes, the Dutch and others. The high level of lactase production has been preserved almost all their lives.

Analysis for lactose intolerance

Very often, lactose intolerance can be determined at home without resorting to any analyzes. To do this, just refuse milk and dairy products for several days. Usually there are enough 2-3 days and, if after that the work of the housing and communal services is restored, then the problem is precisely in the intolerance of milk sugar.

But, in order to accurately make sure of this, the doctor to which you will contact such a problem may ask you to do the following tests:

• Analysis for tolerance. For this, a small dose of lactose is introduced into the body and a blood test is done. If blood sugar has not increased, intolerance to this disaccharide is stated. The fact is that in the normal state of lactose, like any other carbohydrate, should increase blood sugar levels

To conduct such an analysis, a lactose curve is built. To do this, the patient takes a blood test in the morning on an empty stomach. Then he is administered lactose and within an hour after its administration is taken blood several times. Using these data, a graph is built, with which the pathology is determined.

• Analysis of hydrogen inhalation. Hydrogen in the lungs can get due to undigested carbohydrates. Including lactose. High level of hydrogen in the lungs of a sure sign of intolerance to milk sugar

The patient takes a small amount of milk sugar. Then the air exhales into a special device. With its help, the amount of hydrogen is fixed. And already on the basis of its concentration in exhaled air and the described problem is determined.

A few years ago, lactose was used to identify intolerance of lactose analysis for the mucous membrane of the digestive tract. Its fence is quite unpleasant and is practically not used today.

Lactose intolerance allergies

Previously, this problem was associated with allergies to milk protein

• But, modern research has denied this erroneous opinion. If people are diagnosed with lactose intolerance, then they just need to reduce the consumption of dairy products, and not completely abandon them
• As for the allergy to milk, people suffering from this ailment need to abandon such products almost completely
• In addition, the allergy to milk is manifested by slightly different symptoms: constraints in the throat, difficulty of breathing, the appearance of a rash on the skin, vomiting and swelling of the eyelids

What products contain lactose?

• Lactose can get into food in two ways: natural and artificial. In milk and other foods, this polysaccharide is originally
• That is, it gets there naturally. But, the modern food industry uses lactose to produce some food products
• For example, in the production of sausage, milk sugar is used as a preservative (extends the shelf life) and reduces the bitter smack of minced meat

As a natural component:

Added in production:

Is it possible to replace them with lactic milk and cheese?

Today in any supermarket you can purchase food products that do not contain lactose. Even those in which this polysaccharide is natural: milk and cheese. Usually on packages with such products it is written “without lactose”.

This means that such products use milk sugar, which has already been exposed to glucose and galactose. In all other respects, such milk and cheese do not differ from ordinary products.

Dairy products without lactose are produced by such famous concerns as Valio, President, Parmalat, etc.

Important: lactose milk contains all the same vitamins, proteins, nutrients as ordinary milk. The composition of this product includes minerals useful for the body: calcium and phosphorus; Vitamins (D, B12, A, B2 and B3), as well as essential amino acids.

Another popular product in which lactose is originally present is cheese

Unfortunately, there is an opinion that any cheese is lactic. This is not true. True, in the production of cheese from milk, the amount of lactose is reduced. But, it remains in sufficient quantities in order to harm people with lactase failure.

Also, it is worth dispelled by the myth that a lactose cheese is an unnecessary product. This is not so, it is produced from milk in which lactose is already fermented. All other technological processes do not differ from the manufacture of ordinary cheese.

Lactose intolerance treatment

• The treatment of this ailment consists of a diet to reduce milk sugar in the diet and taking drugs that make up for the lack of enzymes that break down lactose. In addition, to treat this problem, you need to increase the intake of probiotics that do not contain lactose
• For example, such as "Bactisubtil", "Biforn", "Bifistim", "Linex", "Enterol" and others. With pain caused by lactose intolerance, you can use myotropic antispasmodics
• Unfortunately, modern medicine does not allow you to completely get rid of lactase deficiency. Therefore, the most effective way to reduce troubles from this ailment is to reduce the number of products containing lactose in their diet
• To eliminate most syndromes of this problem, it is enough to reduce in your diet the number of products such as: milk, cottage cheese, yogurt and ice cream. Today you can purchase products in which milk sugar is already fermented or replaced. For example, ordinary whole milk can be replaced by no less useful soy or rice milk

The severity of a lactose diet depends on the amount of lactase produced by the body

The smaller this enzyme, the stricter the diet should be.

Important: when purchasing products in the store, it is important to view their composition. Lactose can “hide” behind such ingredients as: dry milk, cottage cheese, serum, dairy offal, etc.

The main drawback of the necessary enzymes is not that when using dairy products, the digestive tract can be violated, but that a person suffering from this ailment, intending to reduce the amount of dairy products in his diet deprives himself with many nutrients. Some of which are very important.

With intolerance to this carbohydrate, it is important to make up for the loss of such substances by including the use of products that can be replenished with losses. For example, it is possible to increase calcium into consumption due to the use of broccoli, tuna, turnips, sardines and bread cereals.

Important: the problem of non -renewing of dairy sugar can be solved by replacing products into which it is included with nuts. They contain many amino acids, vegetable fats and other nutrients. Especially useful for people with such a problem - almonds.

Lactose intolerance drugs

With the problem described, taking medications that increase the level of this enzyme is prescribed

Children are prescribed "Baby lactase" and "Laktazar" (for children)and adults "Lactazy Enzym" and "Laktazar" (for adults).

• "Baby lactase" These are capsules that contain enzymes for the breakdown of lactose. They are intended for use by children who have signs of the described disease. The intake of this drug fills the insufficient number of enzymes for splitting milk sugar. Taking such a drug by the child is shown before each feeding. In order to ensure that the enzyme from the "Baby lactase" does not provoke constipation to the child, it is advisable to give no more than 0.5 capsules in one time
• Also, with such an ailment, it is important to help the pancreas with such enzymes as: "Pancreatin", "Mezim Forte", "Festal"
• If the intolerance of lactose causes a violation of the intestine, then it can be helped by such evidence and prebiotics as: “bifidumbacterin”, “Linex”, “Hilak Forte”

Tips and reviews

Katia. A familiar problem. But we coped with her with the help of medicines that split milk sugar. Directly given before feeding the child.

Olga. And we had such a problem. I had to switch to feeding with special mixtures from my chest. By the way, very expensive.

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