A variety of conditions and diseases cause similar GI symptoms and diagnosing can be tricky, but the first step is realizing that your digestive experience is not normal and it needn’t be accepted as unavoidable. Lactase splits lactose into two smaller sugars, glucose and galactose, which are absorbed by the small intestine and used by the body as energy. [4] X Research source Not all people with lactase deficiency have digestive or GI symptoms — they produce low levels, but it’s enough to handle their dairy (lactose) consumption.
If you feel bloated and flatulent after both meals, then you may have a stomach or intestinal issue such as inflammatory bowel disease or Crohn’s disease. If you feel pretty good after both meals, then maybe you have a food allergy to something else in your diet. This sort of approach is usually called an elimination diet, meaning that you eliminate dairy products from your diet in efforts to narrow down the cause of your GI problems.
Cow milk allergy is one of the most common allergies that affects children. Cow’s milk is the usual cause of an allergic reaction, but milk from sheep, goats and other mammals can also trigger a reaction. Adults with hay fever or other food allergies are more likely to have a negative reaction to milk products.
Lactose intolerance is unusual in all babies and infants, regardless of ethnicity — it’s typically a condition that appears in adulthood. However, babies born prematurely may have reduced ability to produce lactase because of their underdeveloped intestines.
The hydrogen breath test is a great way to identify lactose intolerance because it’s highly reliable and very convenient. The test typically requires you to fast the night before and avoid smoking. Using too much lactose on some people can give false positives, as can bacterial overgrowth in their colons.
The blood glucose/lactose tolerance test is an older method of diagnosing lactose intolerance and not performed nearly as frequently as the hydrogen breath test, but it can also be helpful. The blood glucose/lactose tolerance test has a sensitivity of 75% and a specificity of 96%. [11] X Research source False-negative results occur with diabetes and bacterial overgrowth in the intestines.
For infants and children who can’t take other lactose intolerance tests, a stool acidity test is a good alternative. Even though this test is effective, the breath test is usually preferred due to its ease and convenience.
