Risk Factors for Lactose Intolerance
Lactose intolerance is highly prevalent, affecting approximately 68 percent of the global population or eventually developing in individuals during their lifetime. While most individuals are born with adequate lactase for milk digestion, the production of this enzyme might diminish gradually. Certain factors that may increase the risk of lactose intolerance include premature birth, previous bowel surgery or injury to the small intestine, intestinal conditions like celiac disease and inflammatory bowel disease, and some ethnic backgrounds such as African, Asian, or Hispanic descent. [4]
