Stomach pain and bloating are common symptoms of lactose intolerance in both children and adults. When the body is unable to break down lactose, it passes through the gut until it reaches the colon 1. Carbohydrates such as lactose cannot be absorbed by the cells lining the colon, but they can be fermented and broken down by the naturally occurring bacteria that live there, known as the microflora 2.
This fermentation causes the release of short-chain fatty acids, as well as the gases hydrogen, methane and carbon dioxide 1. The resulting increase in acids and gases can lead to stomach pain and cramps.
The pain is usually located around the navel and in the lower half of the tummy. The sensation of bloating is caused by an increase of water and gas in the colon, which causes the gut wall to stretch, also known as distention 2. Interestingly, the amount of bloating and pain is not related to the amount of lactose ingested, but to the sensitivity of the individual to feelings of distention.
Therefore, the frequency and severity of symptoms can vary significantly between individuals 2 , 3. Finally, the bloating, distension and pain may result in nausea or even vomiting in some people.
This is rare but has been observed in some cases, including in children 4 , 5. Diarrhea is defined as increased stool frequency, liquidity or volume. Officially, passing more than 7 ounces grams of stool in a hour period is classified as diarrhea 6. Lactose intolerance causes diarrhea by increasing the volume of water in the colon, which increases the volume and liquid content of the stool.
It is more common in babies and young children than in adults 1 , 7. In the colon, microflora ferment lactose to short-chain fatty acids and gases. Most, but not all, of these acids are absorbed back into the colon. The leftover acids and lactose increase the amount of water that the body releases into the colon 1 , 2.
Generally, more than 1. For lactose, this is the equivalent of drinking 3—4 cups about ml to 1 liter of milk, assuming none of the lactose is digested before reaching the colon 2. However, not all carbohydrates that cause diarrhea come from lactose.
Finally, there are many other causes of diarrhea apart from lactose intolerance. These include diet, other kinds of malabsorption, medications, infections and inflammatory bowel diseases 6. The fermentation of lactose in the colon increases the production of the gases hydrogen, methane and carbon dioxide 1 , 8.
In fact, in people with lactose intolerance, the colon microflora become very good at fermenting lactose into acids and gases. This results in more lactose being fermented in the colon, which further increases flatulence 2. The amount of gas produced can differ enormously from person to person due to differences in the efficiency of the microflora, as well as the rate of gas reabsorption by the colon 2.
Interestingly, gases produced from lactose fermentation have no odor. In fact, the odor of flatulence comes from the breakdown of proteins in the gut, not carbohydrates 2. The fermentation of lactose in the colon can lead to increased flatulence, and the extent to which this occurs can vary significantly from person to person. The gas produced from the fermentation of lactose is odorless. Constipation is characterized by hard, infrequent stools, feelings of incomplete bowel movements, stomach discomfort, bloating and excessive straining 9.
As bacteria in the colon ferment undigested lactose, they produce methane gas. Methane is thought to slow down the time it takes food to move through the gut, leading to constipation in some people 1. Thus far, the constipating effects of methane have only been studied in people with irritable bowel syndrome and bacterial overgrowth. The buildup of gas in the colon results in discomfort, bloating, and sometimes pain. Many people do not know what Complex Carbohydrate Intolerance is and therefore do not know how to treat it effectively.
Fortunately, there is a product that can help prevent the symptoms of CCI by providing the missing enzyme needed to fully digest foods containing complex carbohydrates. It breaks down complex carbohydrates into simple sugars that your body can easily digest. This helps ward off discomfort. This enzyme is made from a food-grade mold. However, if you use Beano and experience an allergic-type symptom, you should discontinue its use. You should consult your physician before using Beano if you suffer from galactosemia a rare carbohydrate metabolism disorder detected at birth.
The use of Beano will produce an additional 2 to 6 grams of carbohydrate for every grams of treated food. For diabetics, this means that each serving of Beano itself contributes an extremely small number of calories less that 5 to your diet and would be expected to have an insignificant effect on your blood glucose.
However, if you still have any concerns, you should speak to your physician. There is no scientific information to suggest that if you are allergic to penicillin, that you would have an allergy to Beano. The major cause of penicillin allergy appears to be penicillin itself and not any penicillin mold-derived allergens.
Therefore, it is safe to take Beano if you are allergic to penicillin. In addition, certain medical conditions make it difficult to digest complex carbohydrates. These include celiac disease, pancreatitis, and short-bowel syndrome. These diseases can cause more undigested carbohydrates to move into the large intestine. Again, fermentation occurs and results in gas.
The fermentation of dairy products in our intestines can also lead to gas symptoms. Lactose intolerance is an inability to digest lactose — the sugar found in dairy foods.
This is caused by a deficiency of the natural enzyme called lactase say LACK-tays , which breaks down the milk sugar to make it digestible. Left undigested, the milk sugar lactose say LACK-toes can lead to the production of gas, bloating, diarrhea, and stomach discomfort. Some people think that their digestive tract is malfunctioning because they experience what they believe to be excessive amounts of gas. To some, gas is often seen as funny and the subject of many jokes. You may be one of the many people who find that gas causes pain, discomfort, bloating, and embarrassing moments.
Although some fear a serious ailment is present, fortunately, this is rarely the case. If we combine this information with your protected health information, we will treat all of that information as protected health information and will only use or disclose that information as set forth in our notice of privacy practices.
You may opt-out of email communications at any time by clicking on the unsubscribe link in the e-mail. Your in-depth digestive health guide will be in your inbox shortly. You will also receive emails from Mayo Clinic on the latest health news, research, and care. Lactose intolerance occurs when your small intestine doesn't produce enough of an enzyme lactase to digest milk sugar lactose.
Normally, lactase turns milk sugar into two simple sugars — glucose and galactose — which are absorbed into the bloodstream through the intestinal lining. If you're lactase deficient, lactose in your food moves into the colon instead of being processed and absorbed.
In the colon, normal bacteria interact with undigested lactose, causing the signs and symptoms of lactose intolerance. There are three types of lactose intolerance. Different factors cause the lactase deficiency underlying each type. People who develop primary lactose intolerance — the most common type — start life producing enough lactase. Infants, who get all their nutrition from milk, need lactase.
As children replace milk with other foods, the amount of lactase they produce normally drops, but usually remains high enough to digest the amount of dairy in a typical adult diet.
In primary lactose intolerance, lactase production falls off sharply by adulthood, making milk products difficult to digest. This form of lactose intolerance occurs when your small intestine decreases lactase production after an illness, injury or surgery involving your small intestine.
Diseases associated with secondary lactose intolerance include intestinal infection, celiac disease, bacterial overgrowth and Crohn's disease. Treatment of the underlying disorder might restore lactase levels and improve signs and symptoms, though it can take time. It's possible, but rare, for babies to be born with lactose intolerance caused by a lack of lactase. This disorder is passed from generation to generation in a pattern of inheritance called autosomal recessive, meaning that both the mother and the father must pass on the same gene variant for a child to be affected.
Premature infants can also have lactose intolerance because of an insufficient lactase level.
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