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Lactose intolerance is the inability to digest lactose. Lactose is the sugar that is found in human breast-milk and mammalian milks, including cow's milk and goat’s milk. Lactase is the name of the gut enzyme that breaks down lactose to absorb it.
Lactose intolerance means that the sugar in milk (lactose) is not digested properly by the small intestine. The villi, that line your small intestine, produce an enzyme called lactase. This enzyme breaks down the lactose sugar into its two component molecules: glucose and galactose. Lactose cannot be absorbed without breaking it down into these smaller sugars.
If the villi in the skin of your gut are damaged because of gluten toxicity, then the lactase does not get produced. The result of this is that the lactose goes through your small intestine into your large bowel. If the lactose gets through to your large bowel, it is rapidly fermented by the bugs in your colon. This produces gas and attracts water into your bowel motions. The result is uncomfortable. The fermented gas gives you bloating and all of the extra water gives you loose motions. Thus, if you eat a lot of lactose (milk and yoghurt), then a lot of lactose will be fermented and you will get explosive diarrhoea, abdominal distension and cramp. In most people with Coeliac Disease, the associated lactose intolerance is totally reversible when they go onto a gluten-free diet. After a few weeks or months, the villi are usually restored, their function becomes normal and lactase can be manufactured again. Therefore, you would again tolerate lactose in your diet. I advise that milky products are slowly introduced after 4-8 weeks on a gluten free diet. In children, the gut heals much more rapidly than in adults. In adults it may take several months before lactose will be tolerated. Even then there maybe still a degree of lactose intolerance. |
