What Causes Lactose Intolerance?

Lactose intolerance occurs when your body lacks or does not produce enough of the lactase enzyme to break down the sugar (called "Lactose") in dairy products.

Lactose intolerance generally develops in individuals as they age and is often genetically inherited. People tend to become lactose intolerant around their teenage years, or during adulthood (ages 30 to 40).

Lactose intolerance can also be brought on by secondary factors such as infections, chemotherapy, penicillin reactions, surgery, pregnancy, or from the avoidance of dairy products for a prolonged period of time. Additionally, specific ethnicities are more likely to suffer from lactose intolerance than others.

Genetics

One’s genes can play a key role in being able to consume dairy product without symptoms. One’s genetic make-up dictates if his or her body can produce enough lactase enzyme, an enzyme the body needs to break down dairy products.

Generally, lactose intolerance most commonly runs in families and is related to one’s family’s genes. Many ethnic cultures are in fact more likely to be lactose intolerant because their diets call for low lactose intake. Over generations, these ethnic groups don’t pass on the enzyme to break down dairy because they aren’t consuming dairy. On rare occasions, newborns are lactose-intolerant. Usually newborns outgrow the condition as they get older.