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Casein Intolerance?

chronicowie

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chronicowie Newbie
chronicowie
Posted

Hello, in need of some info from those who know they are casein intolerant.

I've been on a strict gluten free diet for 2 weeks now (3 weeks with some definite screw-ups)and it does seem to be helping. I've noticed about every 3 days or so something seems to happen and the tummy relapses a bit. Anyways, my doc told me that 70% of people with gluten intolerance also have a casein intolerance.

I was hoping that it was maybe just lactose as I remember having problems in university (but then again I also didn't know anything about gluten), but I've been using a lactose free milk. Anyways my question is about the difference between lactose and casein intolerance, the symptoms for both and your level of sensitvity.

I'm assuming you probably can't have dairy period with a casein intolerance. At first I thought this wouldn't be a big deal as I really can't stand the taste of milk anyways, but what about as an ingredient? Say, having some milk in the coffee or a gluten-free bread that uses milk?

Thanks for your thoughts!

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burdee Enthusiast
burdee
Posted

I've been on a strict gluten free diet for 2 weeks now (3 weeks with some definite screw-ups)and it does seem to be helping. I've noticed about every 3 days or so something seems to happen and the tummy relapses a bit. Anyways, my doc told me that 70% of people with gluten intolerance also have a casein intolerance.

I was hoping that it was maybe just lactose as I remember having problems in university (but then again I also didn't know anything about gluten), but I've been using a lactose free milk. Anyways my question is about the difference between lactose and casein intolerance, the symptoms for both and your level of sensitvity.

I'm assuming you probably can't have dairy period with a casein intolerance. At first I thought this wouldn't be a big deal as I really can't stand the taste of milk anyways, but what about as an ingredient? Say, having some milk in the coffee or a gluten-free bread that uses milk?

Lactose is dairy sugar, which some celiacs cannot digest until their villae heal enough to produce lactase, the enzyme which digests lactose. However casein is the milk protein. Some cannot tolerate casein without immunological delayed reactions usually mediated by IgG or IgA antibodies. Other people have immediate anaphylactic reactions to casein mediated by IgE antibodies.

Confusion comes from the word 'intolerance', which usually means reactions are not related to immunological reactions, like lactose reactions, which are caused by lactase deficiency, rather than antibody reactions. Unfortunately reactions to gluten are called 'gluten intolerance', when they really are immunological reactions. Some allergy 'experts' only consider IgE reactions 'true' allergies but consider delayed IgA or IgG mediated reactions only 'intolerances', even though IgG and IgA reactions are immunological reactions. So people get the lactose 'intolerance' and casein allergies confused.

People who have lactose intolerance can consume lactose free milk products without reactions. Likewise they can chew lactase tablets before consuming milk and have no reactions. Also many can consume yogurt which contains bacteria which help digest the lactose.

However people with casein allergy/intolerance (whichever you want to call that immunological reaction) cannot eat any form of dairy product. Some say they can tolerate goat's milk. However goat's milk still contains casein, but just in smaller quantities.

My dairy (casein allergy) reactions are sinus congestion, frequent colds, cramping intestinal pain (worse that my most intense menstrual cramps), bloating and gas, which last for 10-14 days.

chronicowie Newbie
chronicowie
Posted
  • Author

Thanks for the info burdee. That does clear up some confusion. I wish I could afford those tests that tell you what you are "intolerant" to...I just find it so difficult to pinpoint what is causing the issue!

anniebertin Newbie
anniebertin
Posted

the only milk you can drink-or cheese- is buffala milk.

shopgirl Contributor
shopgirl
Posted

Where did your doctor get the 70% number? I asked my GI about dairy when I was first diagnosed and she said to try cutting it out for the first several months and then reintroducing it. She said all but a few of her patients are perfectly fine with dairy.

I'd think if it had been scientifically proven that 70% of Celiacs couldn't tolerate casein, you'd immediately be taken off it after diagnosis.

Emilushka Contributor
Emilushka
Posted

Where did your doctor get the 70% number? I asked my GI about dairy when I was first diagnosed and she said to try cutting it out for the first several months and then reintroducing it. She said all but a few of her patients are perfectly fine with dairy.

I'd think if it had been scientifically proven that 70% of Celiacs couldn't tolerate casein, you'd immediately be taken off it after diagnosis.

I thought it was more like a vast majority are lactose intolerant because Celiac damages the cells right where the lactase enzyme is made and utilized ... Casein intolerance is a bigger deal.

shopgirl Contributor
shopgirl
Posted

I thought it was more like a vast majority are lactose intolerant because Celiac damages the cells right where the lactase enzyme is made and utilized ... Casein intolerance is a bigger deal.

That makes a lot more sense, particularly for people who get D with their symptoms.

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chronicowie Newbie
chronicowie
Posted
  • Author

I'm not sure where she got that number...perhaps out of desperation, I wasn't as critical in my questioning as I should have been??

She did mention the lactose thing as well but said that most are able to have dairy again once their instestines heal...and if it remains a problem that is more likely a casein problem (assuming there isn't somthing else going on in the gut, like a bug or something)

I was just wondering what the difference between the two are symptom wise?? But I guess it's probbably different for everyone.

Emilushka Contributor
Emilushka
Posted

I'm not sure where she got that number...perhaps out of desperation, I wasn't as critical in my questioning as I should have been??

She did mention the lactose thing as well but said that most are able to have dairy again once their instestines heal...and if it remains a problem that is more likely a casein problem (assuming there isn't somthing else going on in the gut, like a bug or something)

I was just wondering what the difference between the two are symptom wise?? But I guess it's probbably different for everyone.

Casein intolerance has more variance from person to person, but lactose intolerance is pretty uniform. Lactose intolerance means that the bacteria in the gut digest the lactose sugar, which makes them happy - this leads to a lot of gas production, because that's what bacteria do with sugar. The gas causes bloating and diarrhea. That's pretty classic. Usually foul-smelling, usually pretty quickly after eating dairy, often with nausea as well because being bloated is uncomfortable.

Casein reactions can vary a lot more. Lots of members have posted about how they react. It can look like lactose intolerance, but casein reactions won't respond to taking Lactaid (replacing the lactase enzyme) whereas lactose intolerance generally will at least be better if the lactase is replaced.

mushroom Proficient
mushroom
Posted

Lactose is a sugar and casein is a protein, so they have different digestive processes. Casein can sometimes cause a bloating reaction like lactose though.

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