But as you get older, your lactase levels can start to decline, which means there's nothing stopping the lactose you consume from going to your colon undigested, where bacteria break the sugars down and create excess gas and fluid in the process. It's common to develop a lactase deficiency in adulthood.
MILK is indisputedly the ideal food for infants and an excellent food for young children. But as people get older most lose their ability to digest it fully. This happens because intestinal production of the enzyme lactase declines with age in all but a small segment of the world's population.
Lactose intolerance can start at any age and can also be caused by: conditions such as inflammatory bowel disease and Coeliac disease.
Too little of an enzyme produced in your small intestine (lactase) is usually responsible for lactose intolerance. You can have low levels of lactase and still be able to digest milk products. But if your levels are too low you become lactose intolerant, leading to symptoms after you eat or drink dairy.
The body digests lactose using a substance called lactase. This breaks down lactose into two sugars called glucose and galactose, which can be easily absorbed into the bloodstream. People with lactose intolerance don't produce enough lactase, so lactose stays in the digestive system where it's fermented by bacteria.
After childhood, about two-thirds of the world's human population loses the ability to digest milk. As far as we know, 100% of nonhuman mammals also lose this ability after weaning. The ongoing ability to digest lactose, the main sugar in milk, into adulthood is a biological abnormality.
Lactase nonpersistence in adulthood is caused by the gradually decreasing activity (expression) of the LCT gene after infancy, which occurs in most humans. LCT gene expression is controlled by a DNA sequence called a regulatory element, which is located within a nearby gene called MCM6.
In normal humans, the enzyme that does so —lactase— stops being produced when the person is between two and five years old. The undigested sugars end up in the colon, where they begin to ferment, producing gas that can cause cramping, bloating, nausea, flatulence and diarrhea.
Using lactase enzyme tablets or drops.
Over-the-counter tablets or drops containing the lactase enzyme (Lactaid, others) might help you digest dairy products. You can take tablets just before a meal or snack. Or the drops can be added to a carton of milk.
But as you get older, your lactase levels can start to decline, which means there's nothing stopping the lactose you consume from going to your colon undigested, where bacteria break the sugars down and create excess gas and fluid in the process. It's common to develop a lactase deficiency in adulthood.
You can develop secondary lactose intolerance suddenly as a result of damage to your small intestine. Injury, surgery, infections or chronic diseases may damage the cells that produce lactase. This can cause sudden lactose malabsorption and intolerance, even if you could previously digest lactose.
It's fairly common to notice the signs of lactose intolerance appear as you get older, says Christine Lee, MD, a gastroenterologist at Cleveland Clinic in Ohio. “This enzyme production can decrease over time in some people, so most people can experience some degree of lactose intolerance as they get older,” Lee says.
Developing a lactose intolerance is a fairly common issue among seniors. Lactose is a type of sugar found in milk, and people who aren't able to digest it often experience bloating, diarrhea, stomach cramps, belching, and flatulence.
Drinking milk is beneficial for health regardless of your age. Milk is an excellent vitamin D and calcium source to keep up muscle strength, maintain healthy bones, and prevent osteoporosis. Still, low or non-fat milk is the best choice for the elderly.
Lactase Capsules or Tablets. Lactase is an enzyme that helps your body digest lactose. You'll find lactose in dairy foods like milk and cheese. The lactase supplement prevents bloating, diarrhea and gas caused by lactose intolerance.
His studies have found that by consuming smaller amounts of milk several times a day for three or four weeks, lactose-intolerant people can train their digestive systems to break down lactose. "Our studies have shown a really amazing adaptation of the large intestine of humans," he says.
Cow's milk proteins slow down bowel movement and inflammation and the increased eosinophilia as a result of this protein increases the internal anal sphincter resting pressure and thus leading to constipation and anal fissure (2, 11-15).
This is because cow's milk doesn't provide enough of certain nutrients. Also, it's hard for your baby to digest the protein and fat in cow's milk. It is safe though, to give cow's milk to children after they're 1 year old. A child who is 1 or 2 years old should only drink whole milk.
Lactose intolerance is due to the lack of the enzyme lactase in the small intestines to break lactose down into glucose and galactose. There are four types: primary, secondary, developmental, and congenital.
Milk is 'not necessary' for adults, but it's good for kids
MyPlate, the USDA's current nutritional guide enacted in 2011, suggests 2 to 3 cups of dairy for adults daily, but its definition is broadened to include yogurt and cheese, as well as calcium-fortified soy milk.
It is thought that Asian populations have decreased amounts of lactase in adulthood compared to Caucasian populations, especially those of northern European descent.
You can become lactose intolerant as you get older, but this doesn't mean that you have to stop drinking milk. "If lactose digestion is a problem, then lactose-free milk or soy milk can be good substitutes," Fitzgerald says. "Soy milk is low in saturated fat and still is a good source of protein."
Almond milk
This popular and delicious alternative is great for lactose-intolerant seniors who are seeking a low-calorie option. One cup of unsweetened almond milk only contains an estimated 40 calories, compared to 149 calories in whole milk.