One of the most common nonallergenic food sensitivities is lactose intolerance. Except among those of Northern European descent, lactose intolerance is a condition suffered by almost 100% of the people in many areas of the world. In the United States, 95% of Orientals are lactose intolerant, 75% of blacks, 60% of native Americans, and from 2 to 24% of Caucasians, depending on the group studied.
Lactose is the naturally-occurring sugar found in all milk (human, cow, goat, etc.). It's made up of two sugars coupled together glucose and galactose. In the scientific community it's known as a "disaccharide". An enzyme in the intestine called lactase is necessary to split the glucose and galactose apart in order to digest lactose.
Most adults lack the enzyme, lactase, to break down lactose. Instead, lactose is broken down by bacteria in the lower intestines. The bacterial wastes combine with sugars to ferment into gas and toxins causing bloating and cramps.
Since lactose is found in mother's milk, almost all infants of nursing age are able to digest it. But past weaning and with increasing age, progressively fewer children retain this ability. One study of black children found lactose intolerance in 11% of four- to five-year-olds, 50% of six- to seven-year-olds, and 72% of eight- to nine-year-olds. Other studies have found close to 85% lactose malabsorption among black teenagers. Mexican-American children studied were 18% intolerant to lactose among two- to five-year-olds and increased to 56% among teenagers. It's usually rare among North American white children under six years of age, but increases to 30% in adolescents.
"Most formula-fed infants developed symptoms of allergic rejection to cow milk proteins before one month of age. About 50-70% experienced rashes or other skin symptoms, 50-60% gastrointestinal symptoms, and 20-30% respiratory symptoms. The recommended therapy is to avoid cow's milk." [Pediatric-Allergy-Immunology, August, 1994]
Not all individuals with proven lactose intolerance have symptoms, particularly if only small quantities of milk are consumed. When symptoms do occur, however, it is usually within 30 minutes to 2 hours of consuming dairy products and can include gas, abdominal distention, diarrhea, and recurrent abdominal pain, especially among children. Infrequently, severe cases of lactose intolerance in children have been shown to cause damage to the lining of the intestine and severe diarrhea.
Although lactose intolerance is a good example of a nonallergenic yet food-sensitive condition, there can be an overlap of the two. People with a true milk allergy suffer both the intestinal and systemic symptoms and may have problems including nasal congesting, headache, urinary frequency, hives and protein loss in the urine. They can also have a food sensitivity. Of 24 milk-allergic individuals studied, half were found to be lactose intolerant.
These various reactions to milk illustrate the importance of distinguishing types of food sensitivity, in this case true allergy versus intolerance due to enzyme deficiency.
Not using milk is the preferred treatment option in either case. Adding sufficient acidophilus bacteria or commercial preparations of the enzyme lactose to milk-containing meals will prevent symptoms and improve nutrient absorption for individuals with lactose intolerance, but not for those allergic to milk. Conversely, milk allergy can sometimes be treated by desensitization. This is a procedure that is still somewhat mysterious; it introduces a very small dose of an allergic substance into the body and blocks the body's response to the allergy. The process doesn't cure the allergy or help lactose intolerance.
"Lactose malabsorption and lactase deficiency are chronic organic pathologic conditions characterized by abdominal pain and distention, flatulence, and the passage of loose, watery stools. Once correct diagnosis is established, introduction of a lactose-free dietary regime relieves symptoms in most patients who remain largely unaware of the relationship between food intake and symptoms." [J Clin Gastroenterol, 1999 Apr, 28:3]
There are, of course, many good reasons to avoid milk, including:
It is interesting to consider that no non-human animals naturally drink milk beyond weaning; nor do any animals naturally drink the milk of other species. "Overall, about 75% of the world's population, including 25% of those in the U.S., lose their lactase enzymes after weaning." [J. of the American Dietetic Assoc. 1996]
Recurrent abdominal pain is a symptom of lactose intolerance.
Pain or cramps in the lower abdomen usually begin 30 minutes to 2 hours after eating or drinking milk or milk products.
Symptoms of lactose intolerance can be mild or severe, depending on how much lactase your body makes.
Loose, watery stools are signs of lactose malabsorption / lactase deficiency.
"Lactose malabsorption and lactase deficiency are chronic organic pathologic conditions characterized by abdominal pain and distention, flatulence, and the passage of loose, watery stools. Once correct diagnosis is established, introduction of a lactose-free dietary regime relieves symptoms in most patients... who remain largely unaware of the relationship between food intake and symptoms." [Journal of Clinical Gastroenterology, 1999 Apr, 28:3]
Lactose is the sugar found in dairy products. When we don't have enough of the enzyme necessary to break down lactose, it remains in our digestive tract for odor-causing bacteria to feed on.
"An estimated 50 million Americans experience intestinal discomfort after consuming dairy products. Symptoms include bloating, stomach pain, cramps, gas, or diarrhea." [Postgraduate Medicine 1994;95(1)]
One study found that of 24 milk-allergic individuals studied, half were found to be lactose intolerant.
Pre-incubation of infant feed with lactase reduced crying time and breath hydrogen concentrations in a double-blind, placebo-controlled study of 32 babies with symptoms of colic. [Improvement of symptoms in infant colic following reduction of lactose load with lactase. J Hum Nutr Diet 2001;14(5): pp.359-363]
Seventy-five percent of African Americans cannot tolerate lactose.
Adding sufficient acidophilus bacteria or commercial preparations of the enzyme lactose to milk-containing meals will prevent symptoms and improve nutrient absorption for individuals with lactose intolerance, but not for those allergic to milk.
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