SCRIPT NUMBER 81
MILK INTOLERANCE
(TWO SPEAKERS)
PROGRAM NAME: HEALTH NUGGETS
PROGRAM TITLE: MILK INTOLERANCE
PROGRAM NUMBER: 81
SUBJECT: CAUSES, SYMPTOMS, TREATMENT OF MILK INTOLERANCE
KEY WORDS: LACTASE ENZYME, LACTOSE, MILK SUGAR, INTESTINE,
GENETIC, CALCIUM, VITAMIN D
DATE OF SCRIPT: OCTOBER 12, 2012
AUTHOR: RICHARD YUKL, MD, FACS
SPEAKER 1:
One beautiful example of God’s love for us is that He
created mothers with an ability to supply milk, the perfect food with which they
can nourish their infants. For that reason, it is somewhat surprising that a large
number of adults develop a condition in which they experience abdominal
problems thirty minutes to two hours after eating foods containing milk products.
Almost 75 percent of Black and Asian adults and 25 percent of white adults suffer
symptoms that include nausea, bloating, gas pains, diarrhea and cramps in the
belly.
SPEAKER 2:
Enzymes help our bodies absorb the foods we eat, and the
reason for intolerance to milk is that the intestine of some adults does not
generate enough of an enzyme called lactase, created to help us digest lactose,
a sugar commonly found in milk and other dairy products. Normally, the cells that
line our small intestine produce this enzyme, and it breaks the milk sugar into two
separate pieces that can then be absorbed into our bloodstream. Without the
enzyme, most of the milk sugar moves unprocessed into our colon, where
bacteria attack it, causing the uncomfortable symptoms.
SPEAKER 1:
Are there different types of milk intolerance?
SPEAKER 2:
There are three specific types. In the usual type, our body
produces the lactase enzyme normally when we are born, but it produces less
and less of it as we age. In a second type, enzyme production decreases
following intestinal surgery or injury to our bowel by such insults as radiation
therapy for abdominal cancer or trauma. The body can frequently restore
production of the enzyme with time. The final type of milk intolerance is very
rare, but in this type, babies are born with no ability to generate any lactase
enzyme. This type of intolerance is genetic and is passed from generation to
generation, with both the mother and father having the same problem as their
child.
SPEAKER 1:
Is milk intolerance an allergy?
SPEAKER 2:
No. The most common type is a condition in which our body
produces adequate enzyme to allow us to be nourished by milk at the time in our
lives when we need milk. Later, when other foods should be eaten for
nourishment, our body produces less and less enzyme, making milk and dairy
products harder and harder to process.
SPEAKER 1:
How is milk intolerance diagnosed?
SPEAKER 2:
A doctor may suspect milk intolerance based on our
symptoms, and on our response if we reduce the amount of milk and dairy
products in our diet. The diagnosis can be confirmed by a test in which we are
asked to drink a solution containing a large amount of the milk sugar lactose.
Two hours later, if our blood sugar level has not risen, our body isn’t properly
digesting milk sugars and the diagnosis is made.
SPEAKER 1:
How can I prevent milk intolerance?
SPEAKER 2:
Milk intolerance cannot be prevented, and there is no
known cure, as science currently is not able to boost a body's production of the
lactase enzyme. Most people with symptoms can, however, be effectively treated
by reducing the amount of milk products they consume.
SPEAKER 1:
symptoms.
Describe the ways we can use to decrease the
SPEAKER 2:
Consuming smaller portions of milk and dairy products can
decrease symptoms. The smaller the portion, the less likely it is to cause
problems. Also, drinking milk along with other foods will slow the digestive
process, and that may lessen symptoms. Experiment with different dairy
products, because they do not all contain the same amount of milk sugar. Hard
cheeses such as Swiss or cheddar have smaller amounts, and they generally
cause fewer symptoms. Or, you may be able to tolerate cultured dairy products
such as yogurt. The bacteria used in the culturing process naturally produce the
lactase enzyme that breaks down lactose.
Milk and dairy products can be hidden in processed foods such as cereals,
soups, salad dressings and baking mixes. You can avoid the milk and dairy
products hidden in these foods by reading the nutrition labels of prepared foods,
looking for milk and lactose in the list of ingredients. Most grocery stores even
sell foods that are labeled “lactose-free”.
SPEAKER 1:
Won’t avoiding milk and dairy products mean my health will
suffer from a resulting lack of such essential nutrients as calcium and vitamin D?
SPEAKER 2:
Calcium can found in other foods - foods such as broccoli,
spinach, oranges, pinto beans, and in milk substitutes such as soymilk and rice
milk. Vitamin D, like calcium, is important in keeping your bones strong, and it
can be found in non-dairy foods such as eggs and mushrooms. Additionally, your
body makes vitamin D when you are exposed to the sun. Because the number of
foods that contain vitamin D is limited, ask your doctor or a dietitian to help you
plan your meals, and ask your doctor if you need to take calcium or vitamin D
supplements.
SPEAKER 1:
Milk intolerance will really limit my life, won’t it?
SPEAKER 2:
Milk is not a poison to you. It may not even be necessary for
you to avoid all dairy products completely. Most people with milk intolerance can
enjoy some amount of milk and dairy foods without suffering symptoms.
Experiment with your diet. You may be able to tolerate low-fat milk or skim milk,
or dairy products such as yogurt, even if you don’t tolerate whole milk. If you
continue to experience symptoms despite making dietary changes, the lactase
enzyme can be purchased without a doctor’s prescription. Taking the enzyme
tablets or a few drops of the liquid enzyme when you eat milk or dairy products
may make these foods more tolerable.
SPEAKER 1:
Health Nuggets is written by Dr. Richard Yukl, a medical
doctor working in the United States. The medical views expressed in this
program are his and may differ for your particular health needs. If you need
medical advice, please consult a medical professional in your area.