Milk Allergy And Lactose Intolerance: The Differences

Although they share some symptoms, milk allergy and lactose intolerance are different conditions. However, it is easy to confuse them. Therefore, it is important to know their differences.

You’ve probably heard of dairy products and some illnesses associated with their consumption. The best known are milk allergy and lactose intolerance. What are the differences ?

It is essential to keep in mind that while the two conditions share a few symptoms, they produce distinct ailments in the body.

It is therefore essential to know how to differentiate them. Milk allergy is actually an allergy to the protein in cow’s milk. Whereas  lactose intolerance is the difficulty in absorbing the sugar present in milk called lactose.

What does milk contain?

Milk contains several nutrients  such as:

• Proteins: casein and serum.
• Carbohydrates: lactose (composed of glucose and galactose).
• Fats and vitamins.

In addition to these nutrients, milk also contains water.

Milk allergy or lactose intolerance?

Milk allergy is a condition that, as a study published in the British Journal of General Practice claims , is usually caused by the protein fraction of milk. Cow’s milk is the common cause of milk allergy. However, milk from sheep, goats, buffalo and other mammals can also cause this reaction.

On the other hand, intolerance  is directly caused by the carbohydrate or milk sugar, called lactose. The latter is made up of glucose and galactose (simple molecules).

Lactose intolerance is due to the fact that the body does not produce an enzyme allowing its decomposition and absorption.

The basic difference is that  allergy is a reaction that takes place within the immune system, whereas in intolerance the immune response does not. Allergy is less common than intolerance.

Another key difference is that each of these diseases is caused by a different serving of milk. One is caused by protein and the other by sugar or carbohydrate.  Lactose intolerance requires different treatment from allergy.

Sometimes the symptoms of intolerance improve dramatically when the patient is put on a probiotic protocol. This is what recent research reveals .

Milk allergy and lactose intolerance: the most common symptoms

Between milk allergy and lactose intolerance, are the symptoms different? Signs and symptoms of milk protein intolerance – or lactose intolerance – include digestive upset such as bloating, gas, or diarrhea after consuming milk or dairy products.

In the event of an allergy, the consequences can even be fatal, depending on the sensitivity and response of the immune system. To determine the diagnosis of one or the other, it is necessary to carry out a specific examination of the patient as well as a precise questionnaire. In order to observe the reaction after consumption of milk and milk products.

In addition, it is very important to avoid the consumption of milk for people with allergies. It has actually been shown that milk is a very harmful element for their body. In the case of intolerant people, the inclusion of a lactose-free dairy product is possible.

Precautions

If you have been diagnosed medically with any of these conditions, it is essential to  check the packaging not only of the food, but also of the medications you consume.

There are many foods that say “ free ” or “ vegan ”. But in the list of ingredients, we are surprised to find that they indicate the possible presence of traces of milk or lactose.

Likewise,  some drugs contain lactose as an excipient in their manufacture. 

However, both conditions require a suitable diet. Therefore,  part of the treatment can be indicated by a nutritionist. This professional will be responsible for determining the diet according to the individual characteristics of each.

Distinguish milk allergy from lactose intolerance

As you may have noticed, there are significant differences between lactose intolerance and milk allergy. The latter being much more dangerous. Early diagnosis is essential to tailor the diet to individual needs, in many cases avoiding dairy products.

Finally, for intolerant people, there are less drastic solutions. It is indeed possible to consume lactose-free foods or to ingest a lozenge of the lactase enzyme in order to guarantee the metabolism of this sugar.