How does lactose intolerance affect the elderly?
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Lactase production declines with age in all races, and the prevalence is likely to be higher in over 50s of any ethnic group. In addition, the intestinal villi where lactase is produced can be damaged over time by disease, certain medications or prolonged bouts of diarrhoea. The symptoms that result may lead some patients to believe that they have an allergy to dairy and to unnecessarily cut it from their diets,instead of just avoiding lactose. These patients may therefore miss out on calcium, essential in their diets to reduce the risk of osteoporosis. Elderly patients presenting with typical symptoms associated with lactose intolerance should try reducing their intake of lactose-containing foods but maintain a healthy level of calcium in their diet. This can be achieved by eating naturally calcium rich vegetables and also dairy products, like Lactofree, that have had the lactose removed.
Question answered by Dr. Patricia Macnair, Hospital Physician in Medicine for the Elderly
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