Lactose Intolerance Possibly Related to Back Pain

While many of us are familiar with the symptoms of lactose intolerance, it may come as a bit of a surprise to hear that back pain may also be a symptom. Stomach pain, flatulence, nausea and diarrhea are the usual suspect symptoms of lactose intolerance and even researchers are a bit taken aback that back pain may also be related. Studies are now being done that are proving the link between some types of back pain and lactose intolerance.

This symptom was found among several lactose intolerant children in Japan and China. Their back pain was found to be related to abdominal pain that radiated through to their backs. This seems to be a symptom found mostly in younger lactose intolerant individuals.

Another way that back pain may be related to lactose intolerance is through osteoporosis. As lactose intolerant people cut dairy out of their diets, many do not replace it through other forms of foods rich in calcium like green vegetables, fish with soft, edible bones (like salmon and sardines), and foods that have been calcium fortified like orange juice, cereal and tofu. Osteoporosis causes microscopic cracks in the vertebrae of the back, and these small cracks can cause back pain, and eventually disabling fractures.

Researchers at Purdue University have found that young girls as young as ten or thirteen are showing signs of demineralization in their bones already. It is very important to eat calcium rich foods to prevent further deterioration. Anyone who has been diagnosed as lactose intolerant should be sure to include these foods every day to prevent osteoporosis from developing.

In men, lactose intolerance may be a factor when they receive hormone therapy for prostate cancer. Men who take these feminizing hormones become at risk for osteoporosis just like women that are the same age. They should begin to eat more calcium-rich foods to counteract the effects of hormone therapy.
For women over 50, lactose intolerance is a very significant risk factor for fractures in the lumbar spine. In the western diet, three-quarters of the calcium we get is from dairy products. Unless these women look elsewhere for their calcium intake, they can suffer lower back pain and other problems.
One way to find other sources of calcium is to study the diets of other cultures, like the Chinese and Japanese, who eat very little dairy. Choosing foods that they commonly use that are high in not only calcium, but magnesium, which is necessary for proper calcium absorption, can be very helpful. Some foods high in both calcium and magnesium include sesame seeds, soybeans, almonds, flax seed, kidney beans, white beans, French beans, Brazil nuts, great northern beans, seaweeds, navy beans, sunflower seeds, hazelnuts, tempeh, sundried tomatoes, walnuts and spinach.

Since none of these foods contain lactose, they can be terrific sources of calcium. Eating calcium rich foods can really help prevent osteoporosis and the resulting back pain. So if you are lactose intolerant, don’t give up hope. There are plenty of ways to get enough calcium to prevent back pain from lactose intolerance.