As many as 75 percent of African Americans, Jewish, Mexican Americans, and American Indian adults and 90 percent of Asian American adults have lactose intolerance. In other cases, symptoms of lactose intolerance do not appear until adult life or after severe illness or some abdominal surgeries. This fact suggests that the enzyme lactase may dwindle with aging or during periods of prolonged digestive stress. Diagnosis and Treatment Diagnosis may be established by a breath test in which labeled lactose is ingested. The breath is then checked for the presence of the label indicating whether or not the lactose has been broken down, absorbed, and metabolized.
Treatment generally involves eliminating or limiting foods containing lactose .
Typically symptoms can be minimized using the strategies below. Minimizing Symptoms of Lactose Intolerance Consume lactose containing foods with other foods. Use lactase treated dairy products. Because foods that contain lactose are often our best sources of calcium , it may be difficult to get the necessary quantity of this nutrient on a lactose restricted diet . If you have been diagnosed with lactose intolerance, consult a registered dietitian or health care provider.