What Other Diseases Can Lactose Intolerance Trigger?

First it must be made clear what lactose intolerance is and then we can further begin to understand other conditions which may be in some way related to lactose intolerance either directly or indirectly.

Lactose intolerance is the term given to ones ailing ability to deal with lactose in a way which is free from negative symptoms. Such symptoms can often be gastric pains and irregularity and inconsistency of bowel movements.

Within the small intestine is produced an enzyme called ‘lactase'. Lactase is the only enzyme which is capable of dealing with lactose, by breaking it down into glucose which the body can then use. Unfortunately for most adults, lactase production can slow down to the point where consuming too much lactose – in products such as milk, cream and more – can cause these rather unfavourable symptoms.

Lactose intolerance is often mistaken for IBS, or Irritable Bowel Syndrome. This is because both disorders share many of the same symptoms, such as gastric cramps, bloating, irregular bowel movements and volatile bowel movements. Whilst you could in a way describe lactose intolerance as a form of irritable bowel syndrome, based on the fact it makes your bowel irritable, this isn't really correct to do so. The main reason is with lactose intolerance, you can take away the cause (lactose), but with Irritable Bowel Syndrome, the cause is your bowel. Somebody who has been diagnosed with Irritable Bowel Syndrome often has difficulty digesting any kinds of foods, but may suffer terribly with some foods more than others, particularly spicy foods.

Although there have never been any serious scientific studies into the links between lactose intolerance and heartburn, there does exist much anecdotal evidence to suggest lactose can make symptoms of heartburn worse in those prone to the condition to begin with. Some cases have even been reported where lactose has been cut out altogether and the heartburn symptoms have vanished altogether. This is more than simply hearsay, and there is sure to be much more on the topic of a link between lactose intolerance and heartburn in the future.

One knock-on or indirect effect of lactose intolerance is that it can sometimes lead to increased risk of developing the bone wasting disease Osteoporosis. This isn't a direct result of having lactose intolerance, but more down to the way people who have lactose intolerance handle the disorder.

For instance, many, many people who have been diagnosed with lactose intolerance simply cut milk out of their diet, as well as other foods without giving thought to replacing the nutrients these foods provide them with in a different way. Given milk is usually the prime factor of causing and abetting lactose intolerance symptoms, it is therefore usually the first thing to be culled from a person's diet.

Milk is packed with nutrition and is most people's main source of calcium. Because calcium is so important for maintenance of healthy bones, many people unknowingly open themselves up to a far greater risk of developing unhealthy bones by cutting milk from their diet. It is crucial to your health to ensure any nutrients which you previously gained from milk and other products are supplemented elsewhere. This can be as simple as searching out lactose free or reduced lactose milk products which are available at most good supermarkets. Vitamin D is also a vital component in maintaining healthy bones which works by helping calcium absorption within the bones, and can be found in fish oils and egg yolks.

Although conclusive scientific evidence is thin in the ground, it is also possible a link exists between lactose intolerance and heartburn. Although the evidence is mostly anecdotal, many people have reported once they stopped consuming lactose-heavy products – particularly milk – they're heartburn symptoms decreased or disappeared completely after a short time. Whilst heartburn is usually down to a defective lower oesophageal sphincter and its inability to keep stomach acids sealed within the stomach, lactose may be an aggravating factor to those who suffer from this condition.