Harshalee Parkar
Bariatric Dietician & Content Writer
How Bariatric can help with lactose intolerance
Many people around the world have trouble digesting lactose, a type of sugar found in milk and other dairy products. The condition develops when the body has trouble breaking down lactose, a sugar found in milk and other dairy products. People who have trouble digesting lactose may experience a variety of unpleasant side effects after eating foods that contain lactose, including bloating, abdominal pain, diarrhea, and gas.
Lactase is an enzyme that typically breaks down lactose, a disaccharide made up of glucose and galactose, in the small intestine. The small intestine secretes an enzyme called lactase, whose main job is to digest lactose into simpler sugars so that the body can absorb them. However, lactose intolerance occurs when there is a lack of lactase or when only a small amount of lactase is produced
What are metabolic and bariatric surgery?
Metabolic and bariatric surgery, also known as weight loss surgery, is a type of surgery that is performed on individuals who are severely overweight or obese. The surgery is designed to help individuals lose weight by reducing the size of the stomach or bypassing a portion of the small intestine. This can lead to significant weight loss and can improve or even resolve many obesity-related health conditions, such as type 2 diabetes and high blood pressure.
What are the symptoms of lactose intolerance?
The symptoms of lactose intolerance after metabolic and bariatric surgery are similar to those of lactose intolerance in general. These symptoms can include:
- Bloating
- Gas
- Diarrhea
- Abdominal pain or cramping
Nausea
If you experience these symptoms after consuming dairy products, it is important to speak with your dietitian to determine if lactose intolerance is the cause.
How is lactose intolerance after metabolic and bariatric surgery diagnosed?
Lactose intolerance can be diagnosed through a lactose tolerance test. This test involves drinking a liquid that contains lactose and then measuring the amount of glucose in the blood over time. If the body is unable to properly digest lactose, the glucose levels in the blood will not rise as expected.
Surgeons undertake bariatric surgery on patients who are obese in an effort to help them lose weight. Bariatric procedures range from gastric bypass, sleeve gastrectomy, and gastric banding. Dietary restrictions and nutrient malabsorption operations are used to tackle obesity.
Bariatric surgery can lead to significant weight loss, which may have a positive impact on various health conditions, including lactose intolerance. The burden placed on the digestive system can be lessened through weight loss, which in turn may help alleviate some of the symptoms associated with lactose intolerance.
Bariatric surgery has the potential to alter a person’s capacity to digest and tolerate lactose, which is crucial to consider for those who are lactose intolerant. The inability to digest lactose occurs when lactase, the enzyme responsible for doing so, is lacking.
The manner that food is broken down and absorbed by the body can change after bariatric surgery, particularly after surgeries that make major changes to the digestive system, like gastric bypass. The size of the stomach may be decreased, portions of the small intestine may be bypassed, or the usual flow of digestive juices may be altered, but these modifications depend on the precise treatment.
Because of these modifications, lactose digestion and absorption may be affected. Although, some people report a reduction in symptoms of lactose intolerance after the treatment. Possibly this is because of a shift in diet that includes fewer foods high in lactose, or because of a modification of the digestive system that makes lactose easier to digest. As a result, some people may find that they consume fewer foods that contain lactose than they did before surgery. Those who are lactose intolerant may experience relief from their symptoms if they cut back on their consumption of lactose. However, it is possible that some people will experience improvements in their lactose intolerance symptoms after bariatric surgery due to changes in their dietary habits.
Bariatric surgery can alter the composition of the gut microbiome, which refers to the community of bacteria in the digestive tract. Following bariatric surgery, there may be changes in the microbiome of the gut, which some research suggests may result in improved lactose digestion. However, in order to have a complete understanding of the connection between bariatric surgery, the microbiome of the gut, and lactose intolerance, additional research is required.
Aastha Bariatrics is a COE i.e. Centre of Excellence for Metabolic & Bariatric Surgery. Dr Manish Motwani one of the best Bariatric surgeons in Mumbai has over 22 years of experience.
With advancement in technology, at Aastha Hospital, we have not seen any complications of surgery or death in the last 15 years. Surgeon along with his team of dietitians will guide you through your weight loss journey at every step and discuss with you all the things that are necessary during your weight loss journey.
