Lactose intolerance (patient information)
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What is Lactose intolerance
People with lactose intolerance have trouble digesting lactose, the natural sugar found in dairy foods. This is because their bodies do not have enough of the enzyme lactase.
Lactose intolerance is not common in young children because most people are born with enough lactase. However, in some people, the amount of lactase in their body drops over their lifetime.
This is especially common in non-Caucasians and other populations that don't traditionally include dairy products in their diets.
What are the Symptoms of Lactose intolerance?
Symptoms of lactose intolerance can include:
- abdominal pain
- diarrhea
- flatulence
- bloating
Symptoms can be mild or severe, usually depending on how much lactose a person has eaten or drank, and how much lactase is in their body.
Who is at Risk for Lactose intolerance?
Between 30 and 50 million Americans are lactose intolerant and certain ethnic and racial populations are more affected than others. Up to 80 percent of African Americans, 80 to 100 percent of American Indians, and 90 to 100 percent of Asian Americans are lactose intolerant. The condition is least common among people of northern European descent.
Babies that are born prematurely are also more likely to be lactose intolerant, because lactase levels do not increase until the third trimester of a woman’s pregnancy.
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