What Else Can Cause Lactose Intolerance Besides Celiac?

[Sarah8793]

On my quest to figure out if gluten is my problem, I always think about the fact that I am lactose intolerant and have been for about 6 years, right after my first child was born. I became even more sensitive when my second child was born, and can no longer have ANY. Not even with a lactose enzyme pill. So then I wonder why is this progressing? Can the villi become more sensitive to milk over time on their own without damage from gluten? I am getting ready to do tests with Enterolab for gluten.

[tarnalberry]

On my quest to figure out if gluten is my problem, I always think about the fact that I am lactose intolerant and have been for about 6 years, right after my first child was born. I became even more sensitive when my second child was born, and can no longer have ANY. Not even with a lactose enzyme pill. So then I wonder why is this progressing? Can the villi become more sensitive to milk over time on their own without damage from gluten? I am getting ready to do tests with Enterolab for gluten.

Lactose intolerance is quite common among many populations, and actually, the ability to digest lactose is a - evolutionarily speaking - recent change in some human populations. Humans don't generally (in the grand scheme of things) consume milk after weaning - milk is designed as a food for babies. Even in populations that can handle lactose, the ability to handle it (the quanitity of lactase, the enzyme that digests lactose) declines with age.

[MySuicidalTurtle]

I always thught it gets worse as you get older. When I was younger I could have milk- now I can't even cook with it.

[Nancym]

On my quest to figure out if gluten is my problem, I always think about the fact that I am lactose intolerant and have been for about 6 years, right after my first child was born. I became even more sensitive when my second child was born, and can no longer have ANY. Not even with a lactose enzyme pill. So then I wonder why is this progressing? Can the villi become more sensitive to milk over time on their own without damage from gluten? I am getting ready to do tests with Enterolab for gluten.

That probably isn't lactose intolerance then, probably casein intolerance.

[Sarah8793]

That probably isn't lactose intolerance then, probably casein intolerance.

Forgive me if this is a silly question. What is the difference between lactose and casein? And can you have a casein intolerance and not a lactose intolerance or vice versa? confused

[tarnalberry]

Forgive me if this is a silly question. What is the difference between lactose and casein? And can you have a casein intolerance and not a lactose intolerance or vice versa? confused

Lactose is a milk sugar, casein is a milk protein. You can have one, but not the other, or both.

Lactose intolerance occurs when you don't produce enough lactase, the enzyme which breaks down the milk sugar, and the lactose passes into the lower intestine where bacteria in the gut break it down instead, releasing gas as a byproduct. It won't harm you, but it can produce very uncomfortable symptoms. The production of lactase is genetically regulated, and declines overtime, and varies by ethnic group.

Casein intolerance occurs when your body reacts, via an IgG mediated immune response, to the casein milk protein. It is not a milk allergy, which is an IgE mediated immune response that releases histamine. Casein intolerance is less well understood than a casein allergy, which is in-turn less well understood than lactose intolerance.

If you are lactose intolerant, you can tact Lactaid, or another over-the-counter lactase supplement, which will supply you with the enzyme to break down the milk sugar. This will do nothing at all for a casein intolerance or allergy.

[Sarah8793]

Are the symptoms of casein and lactose intolerance the same? For years I could take a lactose enzyme but now since I became more sensitive, they don't work. AND interestingly, when I became more sensitive, the symptoms changed. Now when I have had milk or milk product, the pain is in a different place and affects my upper digestive tract. I'm wondering if I started out lactose intolerant and then have now become casein intolerant additionally. Thanks for the info.! I can't believe I never distinquished between the two.

Sarah

Lactose is a milk sugar, casein is a milk protein. You can have one, but not the other, or both.

Lactose intolerance occurs when you don't produce enough lactase, the enzyme which breaks down the milk sugar, and the lactose passes into the lower intestine where bacteria in the gut break it down instead, releasing gas as a byproduct. It won't harm you, but it can produce very uncomfortable symptoms. The production of lactase is genetically regulated, and declines overtime, and varies by ethnic group.

Casein intolerance occurs when your body reacts, via an IgG mediated immune response, to the casein milk protein. It is not a milk allergy, which is an IgE mediated immune response that releases histamine. Casein intolerance is less well understood than a casein allergy, which is in-turn less well understood than lactose intolerance.

If you are lactose intolerant, you can tact Lactaid, or another over-the-counter lactase supplement, which will supply you with the enzyme to break down the milk sugar. This will do nothing at all for a casein intolerance or allergy.

[Nantzie]

My MIL is from Germany, with family and friends still there. She says that over there they don't drink milk. They put cream in their coffee, and cook with it, and use other dairy products of course, but they would never just drink a glass of milk. Kids don't drink milk after their weaned. They drink weak tea.

Nancy

[eKatherine]

I've been lactose intolerant my whole adult life. When I first noticed it the symptom was abdominal bloating and gas. After being essentially gluten-free for a few years, I decided to try a 'challenge'. I drank a tall hot, flavored milk. Within half an hour I had diarrhea, then again about 6 hours later - classic lactose intolerance. At the six hour point, my feet and ankles were swollen so I couldn't see any shape at all - a sensitivity reaction which took about a week to go away.

[ravenwoodglass]

On my quest to figure out if gluten is my problem, I always think about the fact that I am lactose intolerant and have been for about 6 years, right after my first child was born. I became even more sensitive when my second child was born, and can no longer have ANY. Not even with a lactose enzyme pill. So then I wonder why is this progressing? Can the villi become more sensitive to milk over time on their own without damage from gluten? I am getting ready to do tests with Enterolab for gluten.

With your pattern of excaberating symptoms after the birth of each child I feel your problem may be the gluten. I would totally eliminate the gluten and dairy both for a while and then do a challenge with them. I was told I was lactoese intolerant for years but after 6 months gluten-free could even drink a cold glass of milk with no ill effects.