Understanding Lactose Intolerance: When Your Body Needs More Lactase
If you’ve been told you have a double polymorphism on the LCT gene, you may be wondering what that really means, especially when it comes to dairy. The good news is that it doesn’t mean you’re allergic to milk. Instead, it can mean your body makes less of an important enzyme called lactase. This can lead to lactose intolerance, which is about digestion, not an immune reaction.
What Does the LCT Gene Do
The LCT gene provides instructions for making the enzyme lactase. Lactase’s job happens in the small intestine, where it breaks down lactose, the sugar found in milk and many dairy products, into simpler sugars your body can absorb and use for energy.
Most infants produce a lot of lactase because milk is their main food. But for many adults, lactase production naturally declines with age.
For some people, genetic changes, like a double polymorphism on the LCT gene, make the drop in lactase bigger, so the body doesn’t make enough.
Lactose Intolerance: An Enzyme Deficiency, Not an Allergy
It’s important to understand that lactose intolerance is not a dairy allergy. A dairy allergy involves the immune system reacting to proteins in milk, which can be serious and requires strict avoidance. Lactose intolerance, on the other hand, is about not having enough lactase enzyme to fully digest lactose.
When lactose isn’t broken down in the small intestine, it travels into the large intestine, where bacteria ferment it.
This fermentation process produces gas and draws water into the gut, which can cause uncomfortable symptoms.
Common Symptoms of Lactose Intolerance
People with lactose intolerance may notice digestive symptoms after eating dairy, usually within 30 minutes to a couple of hours.
These can include:
Bloating and gas
Stomach cramps or pain
Diarrhea or loose stools
Nausea or discomfort
Symptoms can range from mild to more severe, depending on how much lactase your body makes and how much lactose you eat.
Diet and Lifestyle: What Helps
One of the most effective ways to manage lactose intolerance is to adjust your diet.
That might mean:
Choosing lactose-free or dairy-free foods
Introducing lower-lactose dairy options like aged cheeses and yogurt (which naturally have less lactose)
Reading labels carefully to spot hidden lactose in processed foods
For many people with this enzyme deficiency, a dairy-free or lactose-free diet helps reduce or prevent symptoms while still supporting overall nutrition.
Using Lactase Enzyme Supplements
If you want to enjoy dairy sometimes, like at a dinner out or a social event, supplementing with lactase enzymes can be a helpful tool. These enzymes work just like the lactase your body should be making: they break lactose into simpler sugars so you can digest it more easily.
Here’s how they can help:
Before eating dairy, take a lactase pill or drop to support digestion.
This gives your gut extra enzyme to handle the lactose in the meal.
For many people, this reduces gas, bloating, and discomfort after eating dairy.
Lactase supplements won’t cure lactose intolerance, it’s a lifelong digestive trait, but they can make dairy more tolerable when you want it.
Summary
Having a double polymorphism on the LCT gene means your body may make less lactase than someone without that genetic pattern. That’s a biochemical difference, an enzyme deficiency, not an allergic reaction. By understanding this, adjusting your diet, and using lactase supplements when needed, you can reduce uncomfortable symptoms and enjoy your life with fewer restrictions.