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Lactose Intolerance |
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Lactose intolerance is a common example of food intolerance, but uncommon in babies and children under 5 years old. Rarely, babies may be born with a congenital lactose intolerance and would have to drink lactose-free infant formulas.
Lactose intolerance is more common in older people and in certain racial and ethnic groups. This condition is common in the Chinese especially as dairy products often cease to be a source of food after childhood.
The sugar that is found in milk and milk products is called lactose. Lactase is an enzyme in the intestine lining that digests this milk sugar lactose. Lactose intolerance occurs when the person lacks the enzyme lactase and thus this milk sugar lactose cannot be digested.
What happens instead is that the bacteria in the intestine will break down the lactose sugar found in milk. This forms gas which will cause symptoms of nausea, bloating, abdominal pain, and sometimes diarrhoea.
Symptoms of lactose intolerance can be uncomfortable and inconvenient, but is usually mild and rarely severe. The problem is easily solved by avoiding dairy products.
The afflicted person would also not be able to take much milk and milk products as a source of nutrition. Therefore, they would have to consider other sources of protein and calcium in their diets.
Diagnosis of lactose intolerance can often be made based on the history of symptoms after the consumption of milk products. Where necessary, laboratory tests can be done to confirm this condition.
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