WHY DO PEOPLE GET LACTOSE INTOLERANCE?
Lactose intolerance develops when the body has a deficient supply of the enzyme lactase. This can arise for several reasons: • Lactose intolerance can be hereditary so that certain races and geographical areas are more likely to have the condition (see chart below for a statistical analysis); • Transient lactase deficiency is a common condition in babies resulting from an immature digestive system at birth. This has been shown to be an important factor in some babies with colic and generally corrects itself by about 4 months of age; • Our bodies are designed to produce the lactase enzyme in response to the lactose in breast milk. In some people the production of lactase decreases as they get older, which can lead to a gradual increase in the symptoms of lactose intolerance in adults; • Lactose intolerance can arise from various gut or digestive disorders, which may be temporary; The following tables show how lactose intolerance affects Australians and others overseas.
