Is It Crohn’s Disease or Lactose Intolerance?

What Are Crohn’s Disease and Lactose Intolerance?




Crohn's disease and lactose intolerance share many of the same symptoms. You may believe you have one condition when you really have the other. Also, Crohn's is a relatively rare disease. A doctor could initially mistake its symptoms for the much more common lactose intolerance. Studies have shown that those with Crohn's disease have a higher incidence of lactose intolerance than the general population. Still, a diagnosis of Crohn's doesn’t necessarily mean you will develop lactose intolerance.

Crohn's disease is a serious and chronic inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). It can cause serious illness or disability if left untreated. Lactose intolerance, on the other hand, is a condition that you can easily treat. It may best be described as a nuisance. It’s very important to know the difference between the two so that you can receive the proper treatment.

Lactose Intolerance

Lactose intolerance, also known as lactase deficiency, is due to a person’s inability to produce enough (or any) of the lactase enzyme in the small intestine. This enzyme digests lactose, a sugar found in dairy products.

Lactase breaks down the lactose into a pair of simpler sugars: glucose and galactose. Both sugars absorb quickly through the small intestine and release into the bloodstream. If someone doesn’t have enough lactase, however, the small intestine can only digest a portion of the lactose. The undigested lactose continues down through the small intestine and into the colon where bacteria work on the sugars in a process known as fermentation. Most people with lactose intolerance can digest at least some lactose, but how much depends on the amount of lactase in their bodies.

Contrary to popular belief, lactose intolerance isn’t a type of food allergy.

Who Is at Risk for Lactose Intolerance?


Risk Factors
As many people age, they begin to lose some of their lactase enzymes, making them less able to digest foods containing lactose. The condition is more common in those of Asian and African descent than Caucasians, as well as in Jewish people over people who are not Jewish. Lactose intolerance is also more common in those with Crohn's disease than those without, but doesn’t cause the illness.

It’s also important to note that lactose intolerance is not harmful — even for those suffering from Crohn's disease — although it may add to a person's discomfort.

For some people, the lactase enzyme may be inducible. This means that if a person regularly exceeds the amount of lactose they can normally tolerate, their body may respond by increasing the amount of lactase it produces.
What Are the Symptoms of Lactose Intolerance?
Symptoms Icon
As the undigested lactose travels through the small intestine, it draws in water through osmosis.

This excess water is responsible for the cramps and diarrhea sometimes associated with the condition.

Other symptoms of lactose intolerance include:

bloating
nausea
abdominal pain
excessive flatulence (gas)
These symptoms occur during the fermentation process in the colon. As the bacteria act on the lactose, it turns into an acid, which then produces gas.

In addition to the other symptoms, the acid may cause anal burning as well.