Who Has Lactose Intolerance?
As commonly expected, infants and small children have the enzyme lactase so they can digest mothers’ milk. However, during childhood, lactase begins to disappear in many people. Some ethnic groups are more likely to develop lactose intolerance. By adolescence, it is gone in about 75% of African- Americans, Jews, Native Americans, Mexicans, and in 90% of Asians. So the condition is very common. What Are The Symptoms? When undigested lactose reaches the colon (large intestine), it is broken apart by bacteria. Lactic acid and other acidic chemicals result. It is these products that create the symptoms of lactose intolerance. These symptoms include nausea, abdominal cramps and rumbling, bloating, rectal gas (flatus), and diarrhea. They usually occur 30 minutes to two hours after ingesting lactose-containing foods. The severity of symptoms usually depends on the amount of lactose ingested and how much of the enzyme, lactase, remains in the intestinal tract. The Diagnosis First, the physicia
