subject: What Triggers Lactose Intolerance [print this page] The discussion among analysts and those who suffer from lactose intolerance has recently grown stronger. While acknowledging that a sizable percentage of the human population may experience the indications of this disease, researchers continue to question its medical diagnosis in most of the adult population.
Lactose intolerance occurs when the body does not produce sufficient enzyme (lactase) to completely break down the lactose (a form of sugar in milk) into glucose that is released into the bloodstream by the liver. Although this condition does not normally present a health risk, it can be extremely uncomfortable for the patient who is experiencing abdominal pain, bloating, gas, diarrhea, and or nausea. Tests to determine lactose intolerance, the hydrogen breath test which measures the absorption of lactose in the digestive system, or the stool acidity test, are relatively simple and can be performed in a doctor's office.
While primary lactase deficiency may be genetic, secondary lactase deficiency may result from external or other physiological causes. Some of these may be: the fat content of milk, intestinal diseases, celiac disease, irritable bowel syndrome or even an injury to the intestines. The most recent research and its ensuing debate links the appearance of lactose intolerance to stress, a theory not well received by the suffering patient, but one which prompted the research done by Professor Guido Basilisco of the University of Milan. His study spiked the present dialogue.
Professor Basilisco began his study with the premise that this condition in adults may be brought about by external triggers. It is a widely recognized concept among physicians and researchers that emotionally stressed patients may exhibit physical symptoms rather than express psychological complaints.
The professor tested more than a hundred subjects who believed they had this disease. These tests were followed by exhaustive personal interviews during which he inquired about their mental and physical health. He asked about their general well being and the level of anxiety or nervous tension in their lives.
Using the data collected, Professor Basilisco concluded that in most cases, life style and stress, rather than lactose intolerance, were the culprits that stimulated the onset of these familiar symptoms. The professor's findings were affirmed by other gastroenterologists, most notably Professor Peter Whorewell, a gastroenterologist at the Wythenshawe Hospital, Manchester.
The concern of Professors Basilisco, Whorewell and others is that self diagnosed patients may eliminate specific foods with vital nutrients from their diet or that of their children. If parents eliminate milk or milk products from their children's diet, they are cutting out an important source of calcium and vitamin D which could adversely affect their children's health. Specialists urge mothers to consult with their physicians before creating a dairy free diet for their babies.
Experts estimate that a large portion of the adult population experiences symptoms of lactose intolerance. They don't all agree on its causes. They do suggest, however, that self-diagnosed patients introduce varying amounts of dairy products into their diets under diverse circumstances to isolate the conditions or triggers under which their bodies react adversely. Thus, whether they are glucose intolerant as a result of the disorder itself, or they suffer the symptoms brought about through stress or other external factors, they will be better able to manage their comfort, their diet and their health.
