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At Healthfully, we strive to deliver objective content that is accurate and up-to-date. Our team periodically reviews articles in order to ensure content quality. The sources cited below consist of evidence from peer-reviewed journals, prominent medical organizations, academic associations, and government data.
- MayoClinic.com: Lactose Intolerance
- National Digestive Diseases Information Clearinghouse: Celiac Disease
- MayoClinic.com: Food Intolerance vs. Food Allergy
The information contained on this site is for informational purposes only, and should not be used as a substitute for the advice of a professional health care provider. Please check with the appropriate physician regarding health questions and concerns. Although we strive to deliver accurate and up-to-date information, no guarantee to that effect is made.
Symptoms of Lactose & Gluten Intolerance
A food intolerance is defined as an inability to eat a food without experiencing an adverse reaction. Different types of food intolerances can cause varying symptoms. Although uncomfortable, lactose intolerance does not cause any permanent damage to your body 1. If left unmanaged, celiac disease can cause permanent damage to the intestines.
Physiology of Lactose Intolerance
Lactose intolerance is characterized by an inability to properly digest the milk sugar lactose 1. Normally, the cells in your small intestine produce an enzyme called lactase. This enzyme breaks down lactose into the simple sugars glucose and galactose, which can be absorbed into your bloodstream. Without lactase, lactose moves through the digestive system untouched. When it reaches the large intestine, the bacteria that normally live there begin to feed on it, producing gases as a byproduct. These gases are responsible for the symptoms associated with lactose intolerance 1.
Lactose Intolerance Symptoms
Adult-Onset Lactose Intolerance
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Symptoms of lactose intolerance are generally the same among all people with the condition 1. The most common symptoms include diarrhea, nausea, abdominal pain, gas and abdominal bloating. People with lactose intolerance usually only experience mild symptoms, but occasionally symptoms may be severe 1.
Physiology of Gluten Intolerance
When someone with celiac disease consumes gluten, it triggers an autoimmune response that sends out antibodies that attack the villi in your small intestine. When the villi are damaged, your body cannot properly absorb nutrients.
Gluten Intolerance Symptoms
What Happens to Sugar Levels in the Blood While Fasting?
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According to the National Digestive Diseases Information Clearinghouse, symptoms of celiac disease vary significantly based on several different factors. Some of these factors include the length of time a person was breastfed, the age a person started eating gluten, the amount of gluten consumed, age and the degree of the damage to the intestine.
Digestive symptoms are more common in infants and children with celiac disease.
Women may also experience missed menstrual periods, recurrent miscarriages or infertility.
- According to the National Digestive Diseases Information Clearinghouse, symptoms of celiac disease vary significantly based on several different factors.
- Digestive symptoms are more common in infants and children with celiac disease.
Related Articles
References
- MayoClinic.com: Lactose Intolerance
- MayoClinic.com: Food Intolerance vs. Food Allergy
- US National Library of Medicine. Lactose intolerance. Medline Plus. 2019.
- National Institutes of Health. Lactose Intolerance. Genetics Home Reference. 2019.
- Borghini R, Donato G, Alvaro D, Picarelli A. New insights in IBS-like disorders: Pandora's box has been opened; a review. Gastroenterol Hepatol Bed Bench. 2017;10(2):79-89.
- Szilagyi A, Ishayek N. Lactose intolerance, dairy avoidance, and treatment options. Nutrients. 2018;10(12). doi:10.3390/nu10121994
- Johns Hopkins Medicine. Lactose intolerance.
- KidsHealth from Nemours. Lactose intolerance. 2015.
- UW Integrative Health. The elimination diet. School of Medicine and Public Health University of Wisconsin Madison.
- Dekker PJT, Koenders D, Bruins MJ. Lactose-free dairy products: Market developments, production, nutrition and health benefits. Nutrients. 2019;11(3). doi:10.3390/nu11030551
- Cleveland Clinic. Gas: management and treatment. 2016.
- Ferreira-lazarte A, Moreno FJ, Villamiel M. Application of a commercial digestive supplement formulated with enzymes and probiotics in lactase non-persistence management. Food Funct. 2018;9(9):4642-4650. doi:10.1039/c8fo01091a
- Ferreira-Lazarte A , Moreno FJ , Villamiel M .Application of a commercial digestive supplement formulated with enzymes and probiotics in lactase non-persistence management.Food Funct. 2018 Sep 19;9(9):4642-4650. doi: 10.1039/c8fo01091a.
- Varjú P, Gede N, Szakács Z, Hegyi P, Cazacu IM, Pécsi D et al. Lactose intolerance but not lactose maldigestion is more frequent in patients with irritable bowel syndrome than in healthy controls: A meta-analysis.Neurogastroenterol Motil. 2019 May;31(5):e13527. doi: 10.1111/nmo.13527. Epub 2018 Dec 17.
Writer Bio
Lindsay Boyers has a Bachelor of Science in nutrition from Framingham State College and a certificate in holistic nutrition from the American College of Healthcare Sciences. She is also a licensed aesthetician with advanced training in skincare and makeup. She plans to continue on with her education, complete a master's degree program in nutrition and, ultimately, become a registered dietitian.