Lactose intolerance causes stomach ache & flatulence

When lactose intolerance adjustment of diet recommended

11/01/2012

Many Germans suffer from a so-called lactose intolerance. When eating dairy products they suffer digestive problems such as abdominal pain to stomach cramps and flatulence. According to the experts, those affected are urged to change their diet in order to avoid the symptoms in the future.

As the „Frankfurter Rundschau“ According to reports, about 15 to 20 percent of Germans suffer from intolerance to dairy products. Most people can already avoid the symptoms of lactose intolerance by slightly changing their diet. However, it must be ensured that enough calcium is absorbed despite the far-reaching absence of dairy products.

Typical symptoms of lactose intolerance
Especially in children, milk is considered to be the essential source of calcium needed for bone growth. However, intolerance to dairy products is not uncommon. In this country, up to 20 percent suffer from a corresponding lactose intolerance, which means that sufferers after eating dairy products, the typical symptoms such as abdominal pain, bloating, diarrhea and nausea. Anyone who has suffered from impairments after eating quark, cream cheese or latte may be checked for possible lactose intolerance in order to change their diet from then on. Here, doctors use the so-called „Hydrogen breath test“ in which the patients drink milk-sugar dissolved in water under medical supervision and afterwards the breathing air is controlled on the typical intestinal gases.

Deficiency of the enzyme lactase cause of intolerance
The cause of lactose intolerance lies in the insufficient or lacking activity of the enzyme lactase in the organism of those affected. Normally, lactase in the small intestine serves to break down lactose (lactose) into glucose and galactose, so that they can be further processed by the digestive system. If no appropriate splitting, the lactose arrives intact in the large intestine, where the intestinal bacteria convert the lactose into carbon dioxide, lactic acid and acetic acid. The resulting gases and acids in the digestive tract subsequently cause the unpleasant symptoms of lactose intolerance. In general, the deficiency of the enzyme lactase is genetically determined, however, with increasing age, the activity of the enzyme in some people also decreases and the tolerance of the milk products decreases continuously. Also, the incompatibility of the dairy products may be due to other diseases of the gastrointestinal tract. A complete lactase deficiency, in which the lactase enzyme is absent from birth and which necessarily requires a consistently lactose-free diet in order to avoid further health consequences, is extremely rare.

Lactose intolerance is not something unnatural
The lactose intolerance is not unnatural, but widespread in many countries around the world. For example, up to 90 percent of Asians suffer from intolerance to lactose and, according to experts, around 75 percent of people worldwide are affected by an intolerance to dairy products. The familiar classification of lactose intolerance as an unnatural reaction of the body does not do justice to reality. For many people, refraining from latte macchiato or ice cream is not easy, but in other cultures a diet with few compatible dairy products is quite common. Here, people cover their calcium needs with the help of less compatible dairy products and practice otherwise the greatest possible renunciation.

Measures to avoid complaints of lactose intolerance
If there is a clear diagnosis of lactose intolerance, those concerned should refrain from using dairy products for at least two weeks, and should not consume foods made using milk. After two weeks of abstinence, sufferers can gradually add dairy products to their diet, but should keep an eye on tolerability. For example, sour milk products that are not heat treated, such as yogurt, kefir and probiotic products are generally better tolerated according to the experts. Also, solid dairy products are usually better tolerated than liquid ones. Those concerned should also take care not to consume the dairy products on an empty stomach. It is best to take a meal along with a meal, such as a yoghurt dessert after lunch. If there is no possibility to dispense with the milk products - such as an invitation to eat, travel or in the restaurant, lactose-containing preparations can also be used. These are taken as capsules or tablets before eating and prevent the typical symptoms of lactose intolerance. However, the use should be discussed in advance with a doctor. (Fp)

Read about:
Drink lactose-free milk with lactose intolerance
Cow's milk allergy occurs in babies after 4 weeks

Image: Stephanie Hofschlaeger