Lactose overload is very different from lactose intolerance. Many mothers do not realize this and treat their babies for ailments which they do not have – like colic disease, reflux, lactose intolerance etc. Lactose overload is not lack of lactase, but insufficient lactase needed to breakdown the lactose due to overfeeding of the infant. Both lactose overload and lactose intolerance exhibit identical gastric symptoms. However, in lactose intolerance, the baby fails to gain weight while the one with lactose overload is very healthy and thriving.
Lactose overload vs. Lactose intolerance: Lactose is an important disaccharide sugar present in the milk of almost all mammals. It is an important carbohydrate that contains two monosaccharides – glucose and galactose. Since absorption of lactose is impossible, it is broken down into glucose and galactose before entering into the blood stream. An enzyme called lactase is at work to make this happen.
One can find out the differences between lactose intolerance and lactose overload by observing certain things:
1. Natural deficiency vs Overfeeding: Lactose intolerance is a case wherein the baby has a natural deficiency in the production of lactase, the enzyme needed to breakdown the carbohydrate (lactose) into glucose and galactose. For an infant, this lack of enzyme production means a lot. The majority of the baby’s calories (carbohydrates) are cut down, resulting in deterioration of the baby’s health. In case of lactose overload, the infant produces sufficient quantities of lactase, but fails to produce enough lactase to meet the demands of an overfed body. In lactose overload, the infant is overfed with milk which (foremilk that contains low fat) passes through the small intestine quickly, leaving no time for the body to digest all the lactose.
2. Identical symptoms with slight differences: Both lactose intolerance and lactose overload exhibit the same kind of gastro intestinal symptoms, but for the differences in weight. A lactose intolerant baby lacks all nutrients it can get from milk and milk products, while a baby suffering from lactose overload gets excess nutrients from overfeeding of milk. But infants with lactose overload show positive results for lactose intolerance and hence are commonly misdiagnosed for lactose intolerance.
3. Changes in weight loss/gain: Lactose intolerant babies will lose weight due to lack of nutrients from milk. Whereas, an infant with lactose overload condition will be subjected to surplus supply of nutrients, resulting in gain in weight and healthy functioning of the body, except for the discomfort caused due to gastro-intestinal problems.
4. Difference in treatment: Treatment for lactose intolerance and lactose overload need not be the same. While the former requires lactose-free food, the latter only demands limited and proper amount of lactose-rich food. It is enough if we stop the overfeeding habit in the latter. Lactose-free formulas for lactose overload are totally unnecessary as it will cut off the essential nutrients.
