Lactose disorders

DISORDERS

(Their description, characteristics or symptoms,

causes, and complementary or alternative treatments)

Disorder: LACTOSE INTOLERANCE

Description: Lactose intolerance is the inability to digest milk sugar.

Symptoms: Diarrhea, gas, and abdominal cramps, usually beginning between thirty minutes to two hours after consumption of dairy foods.

Incidence: For most of the world’s adults, lactose intolerance is actually a normal condition. Only Caucasians of northern Europe retain the ability to digest lactose after childhood.

Causes: Lactose intolerance is caused by a lack or deficiency of lactase, an enzyme manufactured in the small intestine that splits lactose into glucose and galactose. When a person with lactose intolerance consumes milk or other dairy products, some or all of the lactose they contains remains undigested, retains fluid and ferments in the colon. It can also occur as a result of a gastrointestinal disorder such as celiac disease, irritable bowel syndrome, regional enteritis, or ulcerative colitis.

Treatments: Lactose intolerance is not a serious threat to health and is easily managed through dietary modification.

Nutrients:

Supplement Dosage Comments

Charcoal Tablets	For an acute attack, take 4 tablets every hour with water until symptoms subside. Take separately from other medications and other supplements.	Absorbs toxins and relieves diarrhea
Acidophilus	1 tsp. in distilled water twice daily, on an empty stomach.	Replaces lost "friendly" bacteria and promotes healthy digestion. Use a nondairy formula only.
Multivitamin and mineral complex	As directed on label.	All nutrients are needed for optimum health.

Recommendations:

	Avoid milk and all dairy products except yogurt. This is the most important dietary measure for anyone who is intolerant to lactose. Yogurt is the only dairy product that can be good for a person with lactose intolerance.
	Use soymilk or Rice Dream in place of milk and soy cheese instead of dairy cheese.
	Especially avoid consuming lactose-containing foods on an empty stomach.
	Include in your diet foods that are high in calcium. Good choices include apricots, broccoli, calcium-fortified orange juice, spinach, tofu, yogurt, and calcium supplements.
	Check with your pharmacist before taking any medications. Many pills use lactose as a filler.
	Lactose is added to many different processed foods, including breads, canned soups, cookies, powdered drink mixes such as flavored coffees and processed meats. Read labels carefully and avoid any that contain lactose or "milk solids."

Considerations:

	Lactose intolerance is not the same as milk allergy. Lactose intolerance specifically refers to a syndrome caused by the failure to digest milk sugar.
	Hard, aged cheeses, such as Parmesan cheese, are relatively low in lactose and may be easier to tolerate than other dairy products.
	Ice cream is especially difficult for a person with lactose intolerance to digest. It is made from milk and many brands add extra lactose to achieve the desired texture.
	LactAid is a commercial formula available in most pharmacies that can be taken before consuming dairy products to avoid discomfort.

Vitamin For Life Recommended Regimen and cost:

Product No. 59618-	Description	Comments	Cost
245-15	Activated Charcoal 260 mg. Caps.	As directed on label. Take separately from other supplements.	$5.95/100
888-15	Acidophilus with pectin hardshells	As directed on label.	$6.95/100
982-15	One a day Maximum Tabs.	As directed on label.	$6.95/100

Sources:

Prescription for Nutritional Healing, 2^nd Edition

By James F. Balch, M.D. & Phyllis A. Balch, C.N.C.

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