Why are so many people suddenly lactose intolerant?

It’s a chronic condition that currently has no cure. It’s possible to become lactose intolerant all of a sudden if another medical condition—such as gastroenteritis—or prolonged abstinence from dairy triggers the body. It is normal to lose tolerance for lactose as you age.

Why does lactose intolerance happen later in life?

The body creates lactase when it’s instructed to do so by the LCT gene, and over time that gene can become less active. The result is lactose intolerance, which can begin after age 2 but may not manifest itself until adolescence or even adulthood, Dr. Grand says.

Can you outgrow lactose intolerance?

Children typically develop a milk allergy in the first six months of life, and the majority outgrow it by age three, while lactose intolerance develops after age three and gets worse with age.

Can adults become lactose intolerant?

You can develop lactose intolerance at any age. It could be triggered by a condition, such as Crohn’s disease or gastroenteritis. This can result in your small intestine producing an inadequate supply of lactase.

How much of the world is lactose intolerant?

Experts estimate that about 68 percent of the world’s population has lactose malabsorption.

What percent of America is lactose-intolerant?

In Africa and Asia, most people have lactose malabsorption. In some regions, such as northern Europe, many people carry a gene that allows them to digest lactose after infancy, and lactose malabsorption is less common. In the United States, about 36 percent of people have lactose malabsorption.

Why are humans lactose intolerant?

The reason for lactose intolerance. Humans are the only species that drink milk from another species. Other mammals stop producing the enzyme lactase – which breaks down milk sugar lactose into simpler sugars – when they are weaned. Humans, however, can continue producing lactase and drink milk also when they reach adulthood.

What is lactase and how does it affect your health?

Like all other traits, the production of lactase is controlled by a gene. Without lactase, the lactose passes through the body in such a way that it causes bloating and cramping — lactose intolerance. All humans, and other mammals for that matter, produce lactase when they are babies. That’s why babies can digest their mother’s milk.

How did lactose tolerance evolve?

Just as traits in a population evolve over time, the theory of how lactose tolerance developed is evolving as well. Researchers continue to examine fossils of bones and pottery in an effort to relate genes to diet. This particular trait arose not just because of nature, but because of human activities.

What happens when lactose is broken down into smaller molecules?

However, a protein called lactase can break down lactose into smaller molecules so it can be absorbed. Like all other traits, the production of lactase is controlled by a gene. Without lactase, the lactose passes through the body in such a way that it causes bloating and cramping — lactose intolerance.