Difference between Lactose Malabsorption and Lactose Intolerance
Everyone who has lactose intolerance also has lactose malabsorption, but not everyone who has lactose malabsorption has lactose intolerance. You can understand it from the perspective that malabsorption happens in your small intestine, while symptoms of food intolerance happens later in your large intestine.
Your small intestine is the organ that absorbs most nutrients from your food. Your small intestine breaks nutrients down into smaller molecules that can pass through the intestinal wall into your bloodstream. And the remains that are not absorbed in your small intestine passes to your large intestine.
Undigested sugar molecules in your large intestine produce more gas and more water. They trigger your large intestine (colon) to secrete extra fluid to help pass them through. They produce gas when the bacteria in your colon ferment them. This can cause digestive problems such as gas pain and diarrhea. The severity of your symptoms will depend on other variables, such as:
- How much lactose do you eat at a time
- Can you break down lactose a little bit or not at all
- What other conditions might affect the water and gas content in your colon
Your healthcare provider will explore all of these factors to carefully diagnose your condition.