What is Lactose Intolerance?

My 3 and half year old daughter was diagnosed with Lactose intolerance  1 year ago. Her formula that time was Gain and my Pedia suggested us to change it with lactose free milk formula. We used Enfagrow lactose free and I've found out that it was really effective with lactose intolerant children.

What is Lactose Intolerance?

Lactose is a type of sugar found in milk and other dairy products. Lactose intolerance develops when the small intestine does not make enough of an enzyme called lactase. The body needs this enzyme to digest lactose. ~ from http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmedhealth/PMH0001321/

What are the signs and symptoms of lactose intolerance?

1. Children who were born at full term usually do not show signs of the problem until they are at least 3 years old.
2.  Symptoms often occur 30 minutes to 2 hours after having milk products. Large doses of milk products may cause worse symptoms.

Symptoms include:

• Abdominal bloating


• Abdominal cramps


• Diarrhea


• Gas (flatulence)


• Nausea

What are the Treatments?

Cutting down or removing milk products from your diet usually eases symptoms. Most people with low lactase levels can drink 2 - 4 ounces of milk at one time (up to one-half cup) without having symptoms. Larger (more than 8 oz.) servings may cause problems for people with lactase deficiency. - Milk products may be easier to digest include: - Buttermilk and cheeses (have less lactose than milk) - Fermented milk products, such as yogurt - Goat's milk - Ice cream, milkshakes, and aged or hard cheeses - Lactose-free milk and milk products - Lactase-treated cow's milk for older children and adults - Soy formulas for infants younger than 2 years - Soy or rice milk for toddlers You can add lactase enzymes to regular milk, or take these enzymes in capsule or chewable tablet form. Not having milk in your diet can lead to a shortage of calcium, vitamin D, riboflavin, and protein. You need1,000 - 1,500 mg of calcium each day depending on your age and gender. Some things you can do to get more calcium in your diet are: - Take calcium supplements - Eat foods that have more calcium (such as leafy greens, oysters, sardines, canned salmon, shrimp, and broccoli) - Drink orange juice that contains added calcium - Read food labels. Lactose is also found in some non-milk products -- including some beers.

How to Prevent?

There is no known way to prevent lactose intolerance. You can prevent symptoms by avoiding foods with lactose. Read food labels carefully. Lactose is also found in some non-milk products, including some beers. In my case, changing my daughter's milk formula was the best solution and I tried my best not to give her a food with lactose.