The curious case of lactose intolerance

Lactose intolerance is the digestive system’s response to the milk sugar (lactose), whereas in the event of a milk allergy, the entire immune system will react against the milk protein. The reaction is often immediate and severe in the case of milk allergy, while lactose intolerance will never lead to any serious disease or long-term complications.

Having to rush to the toilet in the middle of a movie, with a tummy that is producing audible, rumbling sounds can be an embarrassing experience.

“Not to mention the endless ribbing from friends that you have to put up with,” says Pramod, a marketing executive.

“A group of us friends had met up for dinner and a movie. It could have been the food or the desserts we indulged in, but I distinctly remember the gassy, bloated feeling, the stomach cramps and the mortifying rush in search of the washroom. Even a decade later, the story continues to be regurgitated, with spicier additions, every time we meet up …and my “gluttony” has become legendary,” he laughs.

“But it was much later and after several similar episodes that I came to the conclusion that my gastric issues were being triggered by dairy products. Large amounts of dairy seemed to produce bad symptoms. I was not sure why my body was reacting differently to dairy products in adulthood, nor was I aware that lactose intolerance is something one can develop at any point in life. I have not been to a doctor and have not got any tests done because as long as I avoid or restrict milk products, I feel fine, “ says Pramod

While Pramod can laugh over how his digestive system reacted to milk, 56-year-old Jayamohan, a Govt employee, says he was not sure if his “sensitive stomach” and the frequent episodes of abdominal bloating, continuous belching, pain and occasional diarrhoea are symptoms of lactose intolerance or irritable bowel syndrome (IBS)

“I was convinced that I was “allergic” to milk and milk products. But even after excluding milk products from my diet, I continued to go through these uncomfortable gastric episodes. Stress, lack of sleep or dietary changes and sometimes milk too triggered it. My doctor now tells me that my symptoms are more consistent with that of IBS and that lactose intolerance might be a part of it,” he says.   

Doctors do not consider lactose intolerance to be a disorder. They describe it as the digestive system’s reaction to milk sugar (lactose) which it cannot digest. The body needs an enzyme called lactase which is produced by the cells lining the small intestine, to digest lactose. If one is deficient in lactase, the undigested lactose passes on to the colon, where it produces extra gas and water, resulting in bloating, cramps and diarrhoea. Lactose intolerance thus produces symptoms which can be uncomfortable, but it is never dangerous.