Introduction
If abdominal pain occurs after milk consumption, the cause could be an intolerance to lactose. This is a digestive disorder, as a result of which the milk sugar cannot be sufficiently split and absorbed. In addition to the abdominal pain, typical symptoms such as flatulence, diarrhoea and nausea can then occur.
A further, but rarer cause is a milk protein allergy. The allergy can be directed against different proteins. There are various test procedures to diagnose such an allergy.
In any case, the consumption of the incompatible milk components should be avoided to avoid complaints. For example, it is possible to switch to lactose-free milk. The sufficient calcium intake must be checked when dispensing with milk. This could also be of interest to you: Skin rash due to milk or diarrhoea after milk consumption – what is behind it?
Causes
Abdominal pain after milk consumption can be an indication of lactose intolerance. Milk sugar, also called lactose, is found in breast milk and in the milk of mammals. Lactose consists of two different sugars and must be split into them by the body in order to be digested and absorbed into the blood.
This splitting is carried out by the enzyme lactase. If this enzyme is not functional, the lactose cannot be digested properly and this leads to physical discomfort. These manifest themselves in flatulence, a feeling of fullness, diarrhoea and nausea, which occur after the consumption of milk and dairy products.
The symptoms can appear as early as 15 to 30 minutes after consumption, but sometimes it takes up to 2 hours before they become noticeable. In total, about one in seven Germans is affected by lactose intolerance. In rare cases the lactose intolerance is congenital and the babies show a deficiency of the enzyme lactase.
They then cannot tolerate breast milk and it is important to recognise this in time to replace it with another preparation. Normally, however, babies in particular have a high activity of the enzyme and this decreases in the course of life. Lactose intolerance can therefore still occur at a later age and is even normal to a certain extent.
It can also be triggered by various diseases of the gastrointestinal tract. The intake of certain medications, such as antibiotics, can also temporarily lead to a restricted function of lactase. Abdominal pain after drinking milk does not necessarily have to be a symptom of lactose intolerance.
It can also be caused by other components of the milk. Much less common than lactose intolerance is an allergy to milk protein. Milk protein allergy is one of the food allergies and can be directed against various proteins in milk.
These include whey proteins and caseins. Depending on the severity of the allergy, various milk products can be consumed, while others cause severe symptoms. Often, however, those affected are allergic to both forms of protein.
Some people are only allergic to cow’s milk proteins, while others are allergic to all milk proteins. The symptoms of a milk protein allergy are similar to those of lactose intolerance, but are usually more pronounced. Even lactose-free milk usually contains a very low level of lactose.
If you drink too much lactose-free milk with an existing intolerance, the tolerance limit could be exceeded and it can still lead to stomach ache. If stomach pains occur after drinking lactose-free milk, there may also be an intolerance to other components of the milk. This is mainly due to milk proteins, of which there are several.
Depending on which proteins the allergy is to, these must be avoided. Rice pudding is a widespread food, especially in Germany, but also internationally, and is very popular as a main course, dessert or snack. On average, about 4 portions of rice pudding contain about one litre of milk.
The amount of milk can vary, but of course a considerable amount is in this dish. This can be a problem for people with lactose intolerance: After eating it, they may experience abdominal pain, flatulence or even diarrhoea. The symptoms, however, are highly dependent on the individual person.
About 15% of Germans have such a lactose intolerance. However, this is often not a problem at all and, provided you do not consume extensive dairy products, you will not experience any complaints. Depending on the amount consumed and the degree of intolerance, however, symptoms may occur.
Therefore, it is not possible to give any precise information about the amount of rice pudding that causes stomach ache in a person with lactose intolerance. However, those who do not want to do without rice pudding can simply reduce the amount. If this does not help, there is of course also the possibility of preparing your rice pudding with lactose-free milk.
In case of a real lactose intolerance, the stomach pains should then no longer occur. The intake of lactase can also be considered if you plan to eat dairy foods. This enzyme helps in the digestion of dairy products.
There are various reasons for the occurrence of abdominal pain after drinking coffee with milk. One possible cause is lactose intolerance. Due to a deficiency of the enzyme lactase, milk products cannot be digested properly.
This leads to complaints such as stomach ache, diarrhoea and flatulence. Depending on the extent of the intolerance, even small amounts of milk, for example in a latte, can lead to complaints. Tip: Leave the milk out for a few days.
If your symptoms improve, lactose intolerance is very likely. To avoid this problem you can switch to lactose-free milk or to soya/almond milk. Another possible reason for stomach ache after a latte is the caffeine it contains.
Especially with large quantities of caffeinated coffee, stomach ache or even heartburn can occur because the acid production in the stomach is stimulated. Above all, people with previous illnesses of the stomach, such as inflammation of the gastric mucosa or if they are predisposed to this, have an increased risk of stomach ache after drinking coffee. An alternative is decaffeinated coffee, which is generally better tolerated.
A reduction in the quantities you consume can also help. You can also try out different types of coffee and different ways of preparing it, which may help you find a coffee that is better tolerated. Stomach ache after drinking milk often occurs in the morning, because many people eat a lot of dairy products at this time of day.
Drinking milk on an empty stomach in the morning can also be the trigger for the stomach pains that then occur. Often there are no symptoms if the milk is drunk in combination with other foods. Lactose intolerance is very rare, especially in babies.
As these babies normally live exclusively on mother’s milk, the lactose-cleaving enzyme lactase is very active in the babies. If the baby suffers from a congenital lactose intolerance, the mother has to avoid dairy products during breastfeeding in order to spare the baby discomfort such as stomach ache. There are also lactose-free versions of other milk products available today.
Infants and toddlers can also suffer from temporary lactose intolerance. This is because the intestinal mucosa in children is not yet fully developed and the enzymes that break down milk sugar are not yet fully functional. If infants and children suffer from abdominal pain after drinking milk, the suspicion of a milk protein allergy is closer. This often manifests itself additionally through skin rashes and itching. Often a cow’s milk allergy disappears within the first years of life, so when the child reaches school age, a new examination should be carried out.
