“If my child is lactose intolerant, will he be weak?”
My son is 4 years old, and he has just been diagnosed with lactose intolerance. We're worried though that this will make him weak, physically, and have him fall behind the other kids his age. How will this affect him? And, what are some alternatives that we can give him instead?
9 Answers
No, take lactaid with dairy
Lactose is not necessary for any important need. He can get adequate vitamin D and calcium with Lactaid milk. He can also have lactaid tablets with regular milk. Active culture yogurt is fine as the culture breaks down the lactose. Ice cream, cheese, cream cheese, and other possible sources of lactose need to be avoided to minimize symptoms.
Lactose intolerance does not cause physical weakness. If he is on dairy-limited diet, this may results in low calcium. On the other side, many food items are fortified with calcium (e.g. orange juice, cereal). Furthermore, calcium exists in certain sea food and vegetables.
It should not make him weak. Give calcium supplements iron kids bread nutragrain bars and lactaid milk so that he gets the calcium for his age
Since I was 2 years old I have been lactose intolerant. It never affected my mental or physical abilities. Eating cheese is an option, but if he does not like cheese, you can give him "LACTOSE INTOLERANT chewable tablets." They are over-the-counter and are safe for 2-year-old children. You may crush them and mix them with his food if he cannot chew them. It is important not to overuse them.
Lactose intolerance is not associated with physical weakness. It might affect his activities indirectly because of abdominal discomfort, bloating, gassiness, and diarrhea. However, taking lactose-free dairy will eliminate these symptoms effectively. There are lactose-free dairy products in all stores, including lactose-free cheese, milk, ice cream, etc.
First of all, you have to understand what lactose intolerance is. Lactose is the sugar in the milk which can not be absorped as such and needs to be broken down in glucose and galactose in the intestine by an enzyme called lactase.The split products glucose and galactose are absorped into the blood stream to provide energy. In patients with lactose intolerance, there is either an absence or deficiency in this enzyme, lactase. So, some with the deficiency can tolerate smaller amounts of milk (lactose) and others cannot tolerate any amount of milk (lactose).The treatment consists of either avoiding lactose by feeding with lactose-free milk or giving the child an over-the-counter lactase enzyme supplement. The child will grow normally physically and mentally with this diet modification. In those children who have a complete lack of the enzyme, it is better to consult a dietician. So, as long as the diagnosis is correct and the child is treated with a diet modification, he will have no problems in growth and development.
Lactose intolerance is quite unusual in a 4-year-old child. If your child, after drinking milk, develops abdominal pain and diarrhea, he may have lactose intolerance. However, there are tests that may substantiate this diagnosis, including the presence of reducing substances in the stools. Lactose intolerance usually develops in later age, 40- to 50-year-old people. Lactose-free milk is a good substitute for regular milk, which does not have any lactose, but has other sugars. Not having lactose in the child's diet does not make him weak.
Give him a lactose-free diet and he will catch up and will grow normally.
