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The digestive system is unable to process the lactose sugar, and the unprocessed sugars in the gut produce the symptoms of lactose intolerance. Lactose intolerance is not an allergy , because it is not an immune response, but rather a sensitivity to dairy caused by a deficiency of lactase enzyme.
The ability to digest lactose is not an evolutionary novelty in human populations. Nearly all mammals begin life with the ability to digest lactose. This trait is advantageous during the infant stage, because milk serves as the primary source for nutrition. As weaning occurs, and other foods enter the diet, milk is no longer consumed.
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.
In fact, about 36% of Americans and 68% of people in the world have lactose intolerance. The rest might have a special gene and are able to continue digesting milk into adulthood.
Symptoms of food intolerance vary greatly, and can be mistaken for the symptoms of a food allergy. While true allergies are associated with fast-acting immunoglobulin IgE responses, it can be difficult to determine the offending food causing a food intolerance because the response generally takes place over a prolonged period of time.
Some degree of bloating is normal, according to doctors — especially after a large meal — but experiencing it chronically may be a sign of a medical issue such as IBS or lactose intolerance ...