Possible lactose intolerance /cmpa in adult. Anyone know about this?

[Cleaningupthemess]

I read that 75% of Jewish people are lactose intolerant. I had no idea.

Im now wondering if that could explain my constant mouth ulcers, fatigue and constipation. As a child I had eczema, constant throat and ear infections and stomach ache after meals. I grew out of this in my teens but about 5 years ago the ulcers started. Does any of this sound like lactose or milk intolerance and if so, do I cut out all dairy or would a GP be able to test for this? I don’t want to cut out a major food group unless there’s an actual reason. Has anyone any experience or advice as to the best thing to do ? TIA

I know about lactose intolerance because I have it. Basically, I lack the enzyme lactase, which digests the lactose in dairy. If I consume dairy my stomach bloats, I get pains in my digestive system, I get terrible wind and as the dairy passes through, I get bad diarrhoea.

Lactose intolerance is very common in many cultures/communities. It’s very high in Japan.

There is a test for lactose intolerance but not CMPA. For both you can also so do elimination and observe symptoms. If you’re going to give up dairy you need to make sure you get enough calcium, iodine (added to some plant milks) and vitamin D.

If your constipation is long term then it may take years for bowel to full recover as it will have stretched. Do you drink enough water and get enough fibre. The ERIC website is aimed at children/parents but it’s really helpful for constipation and worth a look.

Vitamin B12 deficiency can cause mouth ulcers.

Thanks Hoplittoebunny. I’d heard about high percentages in South East Asians but had no idea it was common in the Jewish population.

Thanks for the advice . I take ferrous fumerate and B12 but did wonder about how difficult it would be to keep calcium levels up on a dairy free diet.

You wouldn't get constipation...trust me. You would get bloating, stomach pain, diarrhoea and terrible gas! The easiest way to test for lactose intolerance is to drink a glass of milk, wait half an hour and see what happens.

It’s much easier now there are so many vegan alternatives but they’re all ultra processed.

Thanks everyone. When I googled it says diahorrea is the most common reaction but lots of sites also mentioned constipation which I’ve always had which is what made me wonder.

Lactose intolerance in adults is the normal human phenotype. Its only in a few populations such as white Northern Europeans that retain the ability to produce the enzymes that digest lactose into adulthood.

Children and babies produce lactase to digest milk. Adults don't drink milk, and no longer require the enzyme, and lose it.

There are ways around this, like making cheese that contains no lactose, or fermenting it, to make yoghurts, etc, but that limits the exposure to lactose rather than avoids it.

Lots of teens and adult lose the ability to digest lactose - this is completely normal, but not necessarily normal for northern white Europeans.

Milk protein allergy can cause constipation or diarrhoea… my son presented with eczema/hives/hay fever and constipation.

I think it is worth seeing GP as it could be something different and worth ruling out Crohn’s or Bechets both of which can cause mouth ulcers.

CMPA can cause constipation or diarrhoea but lactose intolerance causes diarrhoea.
It is due to absence/a low level of the enzyme lactase which breaks down lactose into two smaller sugars, glucose and lactose which can then my absorbed from the gut into your bloodstream. As a PP said it is really a normal thing, not a disorder, as mammals are really not intended to drink milk as adults and so stop producing lactase, but humans have evolved to retain their lactose evolving ability, particularly in parts of the world where animal milks have been part of the diet for many centuries. But some ethnic groups have not done so to the same degree so see a higher incidence of lactose intolerance.
Lactose is a big molecule which cannot be absorbed so it passes through to the large intestine undigested. There it acts as an osmotic laxative, keeping water in the large bowel so you get diarrhoea. The presence of sugar in the large intestine also encourages bacteria to grow there which also contributes to the gas and diarrhoea.
Lactose intolerance does not have any manifestations outside the gut as it is a digestive issue, whereas CMPA, because it involves the immune system, can affect other parts of the body causing things like rashes, wheezing etc.
To further complicate matters, CMPA can cause secondary lactose intolerance. Inflammation in the gut caused by CMPA can damage the cells which produce lactase and so lead to lactose intolerance. That explains why people with CMPA sometimes see improvement initially if they go on a lactose free but not dairy free diet, though it won't fix the underlying issue.
If you're having symptoms other than diarrhoea it's unlikely to be just lactose intolerance but could be CMPA.