What is lactose intolerance?
Lactose intolerance exists when gastrointestinal symptoms occur after consuming milk or products containing milk.
By nature, milk contains, amongst other things, fats, proteins and calcium, but also lactose (= milk sugars).
To digest milk sugars, you need an enzyme called lactase. This is produced by your own body in the small intestine. However, if your body does not produce enough of it, lactose is not digested (properly).
This can then lead to symptoms such as
* bloating,
* flatulence,
* abdominal pain/ abdominal cramps
* diarrhoea
Lactose intolerance is more common than people think.
Approximately 10 to 20 per cent of the population in the BENELUX is lactose intolerant. But what exactly does this mean? What are the symptoms of lactose intolerance? How do you know if you are lactose intolerant?
Lactose is a sugar that occurs naturally in milk and dairy products and is therefore also known as milk sugar. We need the enzyme lactase to digest lactose. Lactase is produced in the wall of the small intestine. If no lactase, or not enough of it, is produced, the lactose in our diet cannot be digested properly. The lactose then passes undigested into the large intestine. The bacteria in the large intestine – the gut flora – begin to ‘ferment’ the lactose. This can lead to symptoms. This condition is known as lactose intolerance.
How many people are lactose intolerant?
At birth, every infant has sufficient lactase to properly digest the lactose in breast milk or infant formula. In more than 80% of the world's population, lactase production gradually decreases after the age of three.
In the Far East, almost the entire adult population has very low or even no lactase production in the intestine. Around the Mediterranean, this applies to approximately 50% of the population. In Western Europe and North America, this percentage is lower: 10–20% of the population.
From: voedingscentrum.nl
The lactase deficiency is therefore the cause of the symptoms.
Due to the lack of lactase, lactose cannot be absorbed by our body. Not everyone experiences symptoms due to reduced lactose absorption. If someone does experience symptoms, we refer to this as lactose intolerance: an inability to tolerate lactose.
Most common symptoms of lactose intolerance
- A bloated feeling.
- Flatulence.
- Diarrhoea, sometimes the stool is frothy and has a sour smell.
- Abdominal pain and cramps.
Development of lactose intolerance
Lactose intolerance can develop at any age. However, it is rare in children under the age of 3. In most cases, the symptoms develop gradually as lactase levels decrease with age. As lactase production decreases, the symptoms may worsen. Many cases of lactose intolerance first develop when a person is between 20 and 40 years old.
Suffering from lactose intolerance later in life
‘....With older people, lactase production seems to gradually decrease with age. As a result, lactose-’intolerance arise....'
Department of dietetics Ikazia hospital - Rotterdam
General Hospital Voorkempen - Malle - Belgium
Zorgsaam hospital - Terneuzen
‘...Lactose intolerance is more common in ouder people. ’This is because lactase production decreases as we get older…’ –
Ortho Health Foundation
‘…It seems that our ability to digest lactose may decline as we get older. At birth, every infant has sufficient lactase to digest the lactose in breast milk or infant formula effectively”, Lolkje de Vries from the Netherlands Nutrition Centre explains – From: Libelle – Feb. 2024
Diagnosis of lactose intolerance
There are often clear suspicions because symptoms only occur after eating or drinking dairy products. Various tests are available to make the diagnosis.
– Hydrogen breath test
– Lactose Tolerance Test (LTT)
– Elimination-provocation test
Lactose intolerance cannot really be treated. The advice will usually be to avoid products containing lactose in your diet. And if you do consume a product containing lactose, take a lactase enzyme such as Kerutabs at the same time. For more information, consult your doctor or dietitian.
Products containing lactose
The products listed below contain lactose, or milk sugars. The list is not exhaustive, but these are the most important products.
- Milk products such as regular milk, chocolate milk and milk with (fruit) flavours
- Processed cheese, melted cheese and most foreign cheeses
- Custard, pudding, porridge and other dairy desserts
- Butter, whipped cream, coffee cream, cream and crème fraîche
- Ice cream, milkshakes
- Dairy-based soft drinks made from whey, such as Rivella
Fermented milk products such as plain yoghurt, quark and buttermilk contain less lactose. These products contain bacteria that produce lactase, which means that some of the lactose is already broken down within the product. Dutch (hard) cheese also contains less lactose.
Lactose can also be found in products other than dairy products.
Manufacturers also use milk powders or milk components in products such as chocolate, biscuits, soup, sausages, sauces and sweets.
Lactose may also be added to medicines, dietary supplements or vitamin pills. These are very small amounts that will cause little or no symptoms in people with primary or secondary lactose intolerance. However, in people with congenital, hereditary lactose intolerance, even these very small amounts of lactose can cause problems.
Lactose intolerance is not the same as cow's milk allergy.
Cow's milk allergy and lactose intolerance are sometimes confused. Both are indeed related to dairy products and both can cause symptoms such as stomach ache, intestinal cramps, diarrhoea, flatulence and bloating.
Cow's milk allergy is an exaggerated reaction of the immune system to the proteins found in cow's milk. In the case of lactose intolerance, the body cannot digest milk sugar (lactose). This is due to a deficiency of the enzyme lactase. Read more….
Protein shakes, for example after exercise
Many of these protein shakes are made from milk whey. This is a by-product that is produced during cheese making.
The shakes contain high-quality proteins that are quickly absorbed by the body. They help to promote effective muscle recovery. Whey also contains milk sugars.
So if people with lactose intolerance want to have a shake after exercising, it is good to know that this is possible without any problems if you take a Kerutabs tablet at the same time.
Tips and advice for lactose intolerance
If your doctor has diagnosed you with lactose intolerance, a dietician can help you determine how much lactose you can tolerate. Together with the dietician, you can put together a diet plan and identify which products you should avoid.
If you eat little or no milk products, deficiencies in certain vitamins and minerals may occur. A dietician can advise you on the use of substitute products and possibly dietary supplements such as Kerutabs lactase tablets.
Kerutabs lactase tablets are a dietary supplement
Helps digest milk sugars (= lactose) so that you can still enjoy milk or products containing milk from time to time.
Kerutabs tablets (lactase enzyme)
Kerutabs tablets contain the enzyme lactase, which breaks down lactose. You can take these tablets if you wish to consume milk or milk products. Take Kerutabs just before or while consuming milk or milk-containing products.
Kerutabs is available in the following packaging:
- Kerutabs – 4600FCC –
- 15 tablets
- Kerutabs – 4600 FCC –
- 45 tablets
- Kerutabs – 4600FCC –
- 100 tablets
- KerutabsFORTE – 9200FCC –
- 50 tablets
FCC stands for Food Chemicals Codex and indicates the strength of a lactase enzyme product. Scientists recommend a strength of 4500FCC or, if necessary, 9000FCC. This corresponds to the strength of Kerutabs and KerutabsFORTE.
Kerutabs is a dietary supplement and thus available without a prescription from your pharmacy or online.
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