<<Disclaimer:  Verify this information before applying it to your situation.>>
 
Lisa <[log in to unmask]> wrote:
 
L> Can anyone help with whether or not you should be drinking milk and
L> eating butter when you are newly diagnosed CD?....my gastro
L> said to experiment and I have heard that new celiacs sometimes have
L> to cut milk and butter out at least temporarily if not permanently.
 
The following excerpt comes from the CELIAC FAQ document, which you
can get by sending a message to [log in to unmask] containing
this command:  GET CELIAC FAQ
 
FAQ> Untreated celiac disease can cause temporary lactose intolerance.
FAQ> Lactose is a sugar found in dairy products.  To be digested it
FAQ> must be broken down by an enzyme called lactase.  Lactase is
FAQ> produced on the tips of the villi in the small intestine.  Since
FAQ> gluten damages the villi, it is common for untreated celiacs to
FAQ> have problems with milk and milk products.  (Yogurt and cheese
FAQ> are less problematic since the cultures in them break down the
FAQ> lactose).  A gluten-free diet will usually eliminate lactose
FAQ> intolerance.  However, a number of adults (both celiacs and
FAQ> non-celiacs) are lactose intolerant even with a healthy small
FAQ> intestine; in that case a gluten-free diet will not elminate
FAQ> lactose intolerance.
 
Now I'll add my nickel's worth:  My understanding is that while lactose
intolerance may be painful, it is not damaging to the villi.  You may
wish to avoid milk products to ease the symptoms.  Another alternative
is to take lactase tablets when you consume dairy products.  In any case
you do not need to be concerned about lactose damaging the villi if you
do consume dairy products.  (I am not a doctor or dietitian, so take
this with a grain of salt.)
 
L> Question: if I am getting the cramping should I assume the calcium
L> is not being absorbed and just switch to calcium tabs?
 
The cramping, if due to lactose and not gluten, is caused by gas
produced as a result of the lactose not being broken down by the
lactase enzyme.  If the lactose intolerance is temporary, due to villi
damage, then you might not be absorbing calcium (and many other
nutrients) well.  I don't think calcium tabs will be absorbed any
better, though at least they won't cause the cramping that lactose
is causing for you.
 
If you are one of the many adults with permanent lactose intolerance,
then you can't really tell anything at all from lactose-related
cramping.  Your villi could be completely healed, thus absorbing
calcium well, and still you would feel cramping due to the lactose.
 
--
-- Jim Lyles
-- [log in to unmask]
-- Holly, Michigan, USA
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