Many Americans suffer significant abdominal symptoms after ingesting significant quantities of milk and milk products. Lactose intolerance is the inability to digest significant amounts of lactose, the predominant sugar of milk. This inability results from a shortage of the enzyme lactase, which is normally produced by the cells that line the small intestine.
Lactase breaks down milk sugar into simpler forms that can then be absorbed into the bloodstream.
When there is not enough lactase to digest the amount of lactose consumed, the results, although not usually dangerous, may be very distressing. While not all persons deficient in lactase have symptoms, those who do are considered to be lactose intolerant. Symptoms can include nausea, cramps, bloating, gas, and diarrhea, which begin about 30 minutes to 2 hours after eating or drinking foods containing lactose. The severity of symptoms varies depending on the different amount of lactose each individual with this condition can handle. Lactose intolerance takes several forms.