Lactase Deficiency

Pity the poor fellow who gulps a glass of milk. Pretty soon he has gas, stomach cramps, and diarrhea, and it never occurs to him (or, probably, to his doctor) that the culprit is milk. After all, milk didn’t make him sick when he was ten years old.

The answer may be something called lactase deficiency. Lactase is an enzyme that facilitates the digestion of sugar (lactose) that is a key ingredient of milk and milk products. If this sugar is not properly digested it causes an increase in intestinal bacteria, which in turn causes gas, stomach cramps, even diarrhea. Most children manufacture all the lactase they need. But for some unexplained reason, the production of lactase declines dramatically in 50 million adults. And because lactose is so common in so many foods – breads, cakes, cereals – and is also an ingredient in many common drugs, doctors often overlook lactase deficiency as the cause of stomach trouble.

It would seem obvious that the best way to cure the problem is to avoid milk and milk products. But the old wisdom that you need milk and other dairy products containing lactase to keep your bones strong, and even to prevent bone loss, make it hard for us to give it up. Besides, who doesn’t love ice-cream?

So what’s the alternative? There are lots of them. Warming the milk makes it easier to digest. Try creamed soups, and cultured milk products like yogurt, buttermilk, sour cream, and most cheeses. They contain bacteria that also speed the process of lactose digestion. If you’ve got a craving for ice-cream, try the kind made from soy or even rice. You can find these at most health food stores. You can also substitute soy milk for cow’s milk.

If that doesn’t help, there are nonprescription preparations such as LactAid, which predigest lactose and can be purchased in a drug store.

If you’ve been suffering from chronic stomach problems associated with milk consumption, it’s worth trying these remedies. However, if the problem continues, obviously it’s important to check with your doctor.

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