Causes of lactose intolerance and risk factors that must be known

After drinking milk or eating cheese, stomach pain, bloating or gas, and even bowel movements (diarrhea) are symptoms of lactose intolerance. Generally, symptoms can appear within 2 hours of consuming dairy products. So, what are the main causes of lactose intolerance?

Causes of lactose intolerance

Lactose intolerance occurs when your small intestine doesn't produce enough of the enzyme lactase to digest lactose, the sugar in milk.

Lactase is supposed to convert the lactose into simple sugars that can be absorbed into the bloodstream. The simple sugar will then flow throughout the body to be used as energy.

If your body lacks the enzyme lactase, the lactose in food will move directly to the large intestine without being processed. It is the natural bacteria in the large intestine that will process it later.

During the breakdown of lactose, bacteria in the intestines will produce waste gas which then triggers various symptoms of indigestion.

Risk factors for triggering lactose intolerance

Anyone can experience lactose intolerance. However, this condition is more common in people who have risk factors. Some of the factors that increase a person's risk of having lactose intolerance are:

• Age: As you get older, the production of the enzyme lactase decreases. Symptoms of lactose intolerance usually appear in late childhood or early adulthood.
• Ethnicity or race: This condition is more common in Africa, Latin America, American Indians, and Asia (including Indonesia).
• Cancer treatment: Side effects of radiation for cancer of the stomach or complications from chemotherapy can be the cause of lactose intolerance. Cancer therapy can affect the amount of the enzyme lactase in the small intestine.

Types of lactose intolerance based on the cause

There are four types of lactose intolerance, and they all have different causes. Here's the explanation:

1. Primary lactose intolerance

This is the most common type of lactose intolerance. This type of intolerance is common in people who used to eat dairy products without a problem, but then stopped.

Primary lactose intolerance begins when the body stops making the enzyme lactase around age 5. Almost every baby born into the world will produce enough lactase to digest the lactose in breast milk and formula.

However, after long termination of consumption of milk, the small intestine will produce less of the enzyme lactase. When lactase levels drop, dairy products become more difficult for the body to digest,

2. Secondary lactose intolerance

The cause of this type of secondary lactose intolerance is due to the influence of digestive diseases (especially Celiac disease, Crohn's disease), side effects of surgery or surgery, injury to the stomach, or while taking certain medications. All of these can affect how your small intestine produces the enzyme lactase.

Gastroenteritis (vomiting) caused by infection can also cause temporary lactose intolerance, usually for 1-2 weeks. Infections and deficiency of substances during vomiting can interfere with digestion and absorption of lactose.

This type of intolerance is only temporary, and usually resolves once the trigger is stopped or healed.

3. Congenital lactose intolerance

Babies born prematurely are prone to lactose intolerance because their intestines are not yet fully developed. Therefore, premature babies tend to have low levels of the enzyme lactase.

Even so, this type of intolerance is rare and if it occurs it is generally short-lived. Congenital lactose intolerance can go away on its own as the baby ages and with proper care.

4. Congenital lactose intolerance

The cause of this lactose intolerance is a genetic disorder, so it is possible that your condition is passed down from both parents. Genetic intolerance occurs when your body doesn't produce lactase at all from birth, or if it's very low.

However, this type is very rare.

Foods that cause symptoms of lactose intolerance

The main cause of lactose intolerance is the body not producing enough of the enzyme lactase to digest lactose. Lactose is a type of sugar found in milk, dairy products, and any food made with or containing milk.

Therefore, the consumption of foods or drinks that cause lactose intolerance needs to be limited by people who have this condition. For example:

• Animal milk in pure form, or processed milk drinks such as milkshakes , smoothies made with milk or yogurt, and other milk-based drinks.
• Milk-derived products, such as whey (whey), curd (curds), dry milk solids (dry milk solid)
• Nonfat dry powdered milk (nonfat dry milk powder)
• Whipped cream (whipped cream) and creamer dairy
• Ice cream, ice milk, gelato, yogurt, milk pudding, or any cold snack that contains milk
• Cheese
• Butter (butter)
• Creamy soups or sauces and creams made from milk (e.g. carbonara pasta sauce)
• Other foods made with milk
• Milk by-products (milk by products)

However, lactose can also be found in other foods or drinks. To avoid symptoms of lactose intolerance, avoid foods such as:

• Bread, pancakes, waffles, cakes and pastries
• Chocolate candy
• Salad dressing and sauce
• Cereals and their creations
• Processed meats, such as bacon, sausage, hot dog meat
• Sweets and snacks
• Pancake batter and biscuits
• Margarine
• Offal, (like a heart)
• Sugar beets, peas, and lima beans
• Milk substitute fluids and powders, smoothies, and protein powders
• Processed foods such as breakfast cereals, margarine, packaged chips, and other snacks

It is possible that other foods not listed above could contain small amounts of lactose. So you should look at and check the list of food composition labels on the packaging before buying it.

Small amounts of lactose can also be found in some prescription and over-the-counter medicines. Talk to your doctor about your condition and the amount of lactose in the medications you are taking, so as not to trigger symptoms during treatment.

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