Why am I Suddenly Lactose Intolerant? Here’s Your Answer

Lactose intolerance arises when your body struggles to break down lactose, the natural sugar present in dairy products. It occurs primarily when your small intestine lacks sufficient lactase, an enzyme vital for lactose digestion.
Lactose Intolerance: An Overview
Lactose intolerance is when the body struggles to digest lactose, a natural sugar in milk and most dairy products. Breast milk and standard infant สมัคร ufabet กับเรา รับโบนัสทันที formulas also contain lactose as the primary dietary sugar. When undigested lactose passes through the large intestine, it can lead to discomfort, including symptoms like gas, abdominal pain, and bloating.
The extent and severity of lactose intolerance vary from person to person. While some may experience difficulty digesting any amount of milk products, others can tolerate modest amounts or specific types without issues.
There is a broad spectrum of lactose intolerance, ranging from individuals with no tolerance for dairy to those who can digest certain dairy products like milk chocolate, hard cheeses or yoghurt. The four main types of lactose intolerance include:
Primary Intolerance
People who experience primary lactose intolerance initially produce sufficient lactase in the infant stage and childhood. As children transition to a more varied diet, the natural decline in lactase production occurs. However, it typically remains at a level sufficient to digest the amount of dairy in a standard adult diet. In cases of primary lactose intolerance, lactase production experiences a significant decline by adulthood, making the digestion of milk products challenging. It is the most common type of lactose intolerance.
Secondary Intolerance
Damage to the gut lining, where lactase is produced, leads to secondary lactose intolerance. The common triggers are gut infections, illnesses, or intestinal surgery. It is also known as acquired lactase deficiency.
Developmental Intolerance
Developmental intolerance occurs in prematurely born babies due to underdeveloped small intestines, leading to temporary lactose intolerance.
Congenital Lactose Intolerance
Congenital lactose intolerance is a condition affecting infants. It is a rare condition that arises when infants are born with a deficiency or absence of the enzyme lactase. This condition occurs when babies receive one gene responsible for this deficiency from each parent despite both parents being lactose tolerant.