![]() ![]() This condition was fatal before the development of lactose-free infant formulas.ĭifficulty digesting lactose also can be caused by several gastrointestinal disorders. Unable to digest lactose, the infants have diarrhea from birth. Infants with this condition do not produce any lactase. In contrast, most Caucasians (80%) have a gene that preserves the ability to produce lactase into adulthood.Ī rare cause of lactose intolerance is called congenital lactase deficiency. As many as 90% of people from some areas of Eastern Asia, 80% of American Indians, 65% of Africans and African-Americans, and 50% of Hispanics have some degree of lactose intolerance. In many people of African or Asian descent, the body begins making less lactase around age 5. Lactose intolerance usually is genetic (inherited). The extra gas and water result in symptoms, such as cramping, diarrhea, bloating and flatulence (gas). The remaining lactose also draws water into the colon. Bacteria in the colon break down some of the lactose, producing hydrogen gas. When lactose can't be digested well, it passes into the colon. In normal digestion, lactose is digested in the small intestine without the release of gas bubbles. Once lactose is broken down into simpler forms of sugar, these simple sugars can be absorbed into the bloodstream. The job of lactase is to break down lactose, the main sugar in milk. This condition occurs when the body does not have enough of the intestinal enzyme lactase. Lactose intolerance is a common cause of abdominal cramping, bloating and loose stools.
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