Are You Lactose Intolerant Without Knowing It?

Although some may say that food allergies are an invention of the new century, they have actually existed ever since humans began drinking milk and eating grains and legumes. Are you lactose intolerant without knowing it? Read here.

Lactose intolerant

Today we are telling you about signs of lactose intolerance so you can determine if you are having trouble digesting this food.

What is lactose intolerance?

The gradual genetic mutations of mankind have enabled us to continue drinking milk into adulthood.

However, some people do not produce enough of the enzyme to absorb the lactose. This is how lactose intolerance happens.

Lactose intolerance is a disorder that comes from a deficiency of the enzyme responsible for digesting lactose. When it is poorly absorbed by your body, milk sugar passes to the colon where it ferments and causes flatulence.

The consumption of milk, yogurt or ice cream in a lactose intolerant person does not cause severe or irreversible damage to the intestinal tract, but rather temporary symptoms.

Many people think they have this problem when they actually have excessive bacterial growth, celiac disease or gastrointestinal inflammation.

It is worth noting that the majority of people with intolerance have primarily lactose intolerance; in other words , they can drink a glass of milk (or similar dairy products) without symptoms and even consume dairy products with their meals without intestinal problems.

They also have the option of consuming products that are low in lactose or taking lactose supplements.

Symptoms of lactose intolerance

Lactose intolerance shows its signs between 30 minutes and 2 hours after eating or drinking foods containing lactose.

The degree of symptoms depends on the person, the amount ingested, and how much (or little) there is of the lactose enzyme in the stomach.

To clarify this, these signs do not always mean lactose intolerance. They can be “shared” with other conditions or gastrointestinal disorders (especially stomach flu).

A “tip” that can help is to look at the time the symptoms appear. If it is after eating or drinking milk, yogurt, cheese, ice cream, etc., it is more likely due to lactose intolerance.

Here’s why:

• The fermentation of the lactose near the intestinal bacteria produces more acidic stools that can cause irritation or burning sensations when going to the toilet.
• This process can also trigger bloating or abdominal pain and more flatulence (which lasts for several hours after eating dairy products).
• It is likely that stools and flatulence will be smelly and strong.

Diarrhea or constipation can go hand in hand with lactose intolerant as it causes an imbalance in the intestinal flora. Stomach cramps are also common.

Lactose intolerance in children and adolescents often means nausea or vomiting.

In chronic cases (secondary lactose deficiency) you can also see:

• Remarkable weight loss
• Redness at the anus
• Stomach cramps
• Explosive diarrhea

In addition, people with these cases experience skin problems, extreme fatigue and pain in their extremities.

How do I find out if I am lactose intolerant?

If you think you have this problem, it is important to see a specialist. A professional will be able to diagnose your symptoms.

The most common tests are:

Glycemic response test

• First, blood is drawn to measure the initial glycemia levels.
• Then an overload of lactose, 50 grams every 30 minutes for 2 hours (4 doses) is given.
• The blood is then drawn again to measure glucose.

If the measurements are the same, lactase does not work properly.

However, this test is not very specific as there are other disorders that can alter glycemia, such as diabetes.

Hydrogen inhalation test

This method is mostly used to detect lactose intolerant people. The person consumes a lactose solution at 15 minute intervals and then exhales in an airtight bag.

When milk sugar is not digested and moved to the intestines, bacteria use them as food and produce hydrogen.

Therefore, if your breath has a good amount of hydrogen, it is probably due to a problem digesting lactose.

Small bowel biopsy

An esophageal or gastrointestinal endoscope is used to perform this test.

The recovered tissue fragments are then analyzed in the laboratory to determine the presence or absence of lactase in the mucosa.

Acidity test of stool

This test is mainly for young children, where their young age makes other studies too risky or impractical.

Genetic testing

This test aims to detect primary lactose intolerance caused by the MCM6 gene.

A blood or saliva sample is all that is required to analyze the two polymorphisms associated with this condition.