As we age, the less lactose we are able to handle

Milk is important for both the physical and mental advancement of a child. In surprisingly numerous cases, however, milk intake causes gas, abdominal pains and even diarrhea.

For the lactose-intolerant child, drinking milk – despite its obvious benefits – becomes a self-defeating exercise. Many children are forced to drink less milk due to the discomforts it yields, thus, compromising their nutrition and ability to advance mentally.

Lactose, the predominant sugar of milk, is present in all dairy products. The lactose-intolerant individual is unable to digest significant amounts of lactose. This inability results from a shortage of the enzyme lactase, which is normally produced by the cells that line the small intestine. Lactase breaks down milk sugar into simpler forms that can then be absorbed into the bloodstream.

When lactose is not digested and absorbed, it remains in the gut, starts to ferment, and produces gas. The production of gas results in bloating and the acidic atmosphere provokes diarrhea. To make matters worse, the condition becomes self-perpetuating since the damage to "brush border" areas means even less lactase is produced. This condition is known as secondary lactase deficiency.

Some mothers feel distressed when their babies show signs of milk rejection. Others believe that proper burping or the application of topical oils will relieve gas and colic problems. But when these symptoms persist, it may be a sign the baby is lactose-intolerant.

Lactose intolerance can be congenital, meaning that one is born lactose-intolerant, or acquired, meaning that one becomes lactose-intolerant later in life. While congenital lactose intolerance is fairly rare, it is important to remember that lactose intolerance is a common and normal consequence of aging, known as late-onset lactose intolerance.

Infants are generally born with high levels of the enzyme lactase although there is a genetically programmed decline in lactase levels after weaning in most racial and ethnic groups, most especially Asians and Africans.

At birth, we produce enough lactase. Between the ages of two and seven, however, lactase production begins to decline. Lactase deficiency increases from 23 percent in one- to two-year-old children, 68 percent in those aged three to four, to almost 86 percent in nine- to 10-year-olds.

By adulthood, many people have about one-tenth as much as they had at infancy. This gradual decline means that when we take in more lactose than we can handle, it lingers in the digestive tract, producing abdominal cramping, bloating, gas and diarrhea 30 minutes to two hours after eating.

Fortunately, lactose intolerance is relatively easy to manage. No treatment exists to improve the body’s ability to produce lactase, but symptoms can be controlled through diet. Young children with lactase deficiency should not eat any food containing lactose.

Mead Johnson’s lactose-free milk formulas are the innovative solutions to the nutrition needs of lactose-intolerant children. These formulas contain glucose polymers for easier digestion, and all the vitamins and minerals of regular formulas plus DHA, an important brain-building ingredient.

Mead Johnson’s lactose-free line is the only complete line of formulas that help support brain development the tummy-friendly way.

Even though studies show up to 50 percent of Filipinos are lactose-intolerant, it need not pose a serious threat to good health. A carefully chosen diet is the solution to leading a normal healthy life, free of the debilitating discomforts of lactose intolerance.