Inability to digest milk sugar, very common in Asia and Africa.
Lactose intolerance is the inability to fully digest lactose (milk sugar) due to insufficient intestinal lactase, resulting in colic fermentation with bloating, pain, and diarrhea.
70% of the global population presents with lactase deficiency after childhood (persisting lactase is a recent genetic mutation). The tolerance threshold varies: most tolerate 12-15g of lactose per day (a glass of milk). Fermented cheeses (almost lactose-free) and yogurts (lactose partially degraded) are often tolerated.
Functional digestive disorder requiring nutritional adaptation but rarely nutritional deficiency.
Identify individual tolerance threshold. Compensate calcium with other sources (sardines, fermented cheese, leafy greens).
Lactose intolerance does not require eliminating all dairy products — many are well tolerated in small amounts.
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