Lactose intolerance can it go away

So you need to be careful about the foods you eat every day. However, many people can tolerate a certain amount of lactose and don't need to completely avoid it.

Lactose is often added to some boxed, canned, frozen, and prepared foods such as:. Call your healthcare provider if you have trouble managing your symptoms. Some symptoms can be embarrassing. Your healthcare provider can work with you to help keep them under control. Health Home Conditions and Diseases. What is lactose intolerance? Lactose intolerance is not the same thing as having a food allergy to milk. What causes lactose intolerance? Here are some common causes of this condition: Lactose intolerance often runs in families hereditary.

Symptoms may start during the teen or adult years. In some cases, the small intestine stops making lactase after an injury or after a disease or infection. Some babies born too early premature babies may not be able to make enough lactase.

This is often a short-term problem that goes away. In very rare cases, people are born with an inability to make any lactase at all. What are the symptoms of lactose intolerance? Symptoms may include: Belly abdominal cramps and pain Nausea Bloating Gas Diarrhea How severe your symptoms are will depend on how much lactose you have ingested and how much lactase your body makes.

How is lactose intolerance diagnosed? Some tests can help your doctor check for lactose intolerance. These may include: Lactose tolerance test. This test checks how your digestive system absorbs lactose. You will be asked not to eat or drink anything for about 8 hours before the test. This often means not eating after midnight. For the test, you will drink a liquid that contains lactose. Some blood samples will be taken over a 2-hour period. These will check your blood sugar blood glucose level.

Hydrogen breath test. Lactose intolerance is common and can cause a wide range of symptoms. Here are 5 signs and symptoms of lactose intolerance. A lactose tolerance test measures how well your body can process lactose, a type of sugar found in dairy products, using the enzyme lactase. This article reviews the 8 most common types of food sensitivities and intolerances, their related symptoms and foods to avoid. IBS is a disorder of bowel function whereas lactose intolerance is related to an enzyme needed to digest dairy.

You can develop lactose intolerance at any age. It could be age related or triggered by a condition — such as Crohn's disease — if it restricts…. Health Conditions Discover Plan Connect. Medically reviewed by Saurabh Sethi, M.

Specific symptoms Other food intolerances Is lactose intolerance curable? Seeking medical help Coping Summary Lactose intolerance is an inability to digest the sugar in milk, called lactose. The inability to breakdown lactose leads to symptoms such as: gas nausea bloating diarrhea abdominal pain stomach rumbling vomiting The symptoms of lactose intolerance are similar to other digestive issues like irritable bowel syndrome IBS.

Milk allergies cause an immune response that may lead to more serious symptoms like: shortness of breath throat swelling tingling around your mouth The symptoms of lactose intolerance usually begin within 30 minutes to 2 hours after consuming dairy and should go away once the dairy you consumed completely passes through your digestive system — within about 48 hours.

How long do lactose intolerance symptoms last? How long do other food intolerance symptoms last? There are a number of alternative foods and drinks available in supermarkets to replace the milk and dairy products you need to avoid. There are a number of lactose-free dairy products available to buy that are suitable for people with lactose intolerance.

These contain the same vitamins and minerals as standard dairy products, but they also have an added enzyme called lactase, which helps digest any lactose so the products do not trigger any symptoms.

If you're unable to eat most dairy products, you may not be getting enough calcium in your daily diet. It's a good idea to choose lactose-free products with added calcium and ensure your diet contains alternative sources of calcium, such as:. You can also buy combined calcium and vitamin D supplements from most pharmacists to help maintain good bone health. It's important to check with your GP or dietitian whether you should be taking supplements, however, as taking excessively high levels of calcium can cause side effects.

In addition to dietary changes, you may also find it useful to take liquid drops, tablets or capsules that contain lactase substitutes. These are available from most health foods shops.

Lactase substitutes replace the lactase your small intestine is not producing, which can reduce your symptoms by helping your body break down any lactose in your diet more easily.

Lactase substitutes can either be added to milk or taken just before eating a meal containing lactose. If your child is lactose intolerant, they may be able to consume small amounts of lactose without experiencing symptoms. This is quite safe, but you may need to experiment to find out how much they can comfortably eat or drink. If your child is unable to tolerate any lactose, your doctor may refer you to a dietitian for nutritional advice.

This is because it's important for young children to have certain nutrients in their diet to ensure healthy growth and development. For babies with lactose intolerance, lactose-free formula milk is available to buy from pharmacies and supermarkets. But soya formula is not recommended for children under 6 months because it contains hormones that may interfere with your baby's future physical and sexual development.

Breastfed babies may benefit from lactase substitute drops to help their bodies digest the lactose in breast milk.

It does not put them at greater risk of becoming lactose intolerant and has important health benefits for your baby. Find out more about the benefits of breastfeeding. Page last reviewed: 25 February Next review due: 25 February