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Lactose intolerance does not cause damage to the gastrointestinal tract. [2] Lactose intolerance is due to the lack of the enzyme lactase in the small intestines to break lactose down into glucose and galactose. [3] There are four types: primary, secondary, developmental, and congenital. [1]
Secondary lactose intolerance results from injury to the small intestine, such as from infection, celiac disease, inflammatory bowel disease or other diseases. [43] [44] Developmental lactose intolerance may occur in premature babies and usually improves over a short period of time. [43]
This is an autosomal recessive disorder and infants that can’t break down lactose have trouble with breastmilk, and develop diarrhea starting from birth. Sometimes, even those with lactase-persistence can develop temporary lactose intolerance as a result of infection or inflammation in the small intestine.
Food allergies affect mostly young children, and approximately 90 percent of these allergies are caused by just eight foods: cow's milk, eggs, soy, peanuts, tree nuts, wheat, fish, and shellfish.
Lactose can not be absorbed by the intestine and needs to be split in the small intestine into galactose and glucose by the enzyme called lactase; unabsorbed lactose can cause abdominal pain, bloating, diarrhea, gas, and nausea. [citation needed] In most mammals, production of lactase diminishes after infants are weaned from maternal milk.
However, the cause of your milk craving may be straightforward. "One of the main reasons you may be craving milk is to quench your thirst," Werner says. "Milk is about 87% water."
Lactose intolerance in infants (congenital lactase deficiency) is caused by mutations in the LCT gene. Mutations are believed to interfere with the function of lactase, causing affected infants to have a severely impaired ability to digest lactose in breast milk or formula.
Lactase persistence or lactose tolerance is the continued activity of the lactase enzyme in adulthood, allowing the digestion of lactose in milk. In most mammals , the activity of the enzyme is dramatically reduced after weaning . [ 1 ]