What is the Difference Between IBS and Lactose Intolerance

The key difference between IBS and lactose intolerance is that IBS is a medical condition due to chronic inflammation of the gastrointestinal tract, while lactose intolerance is a medical condition due to the body’s inability to digest one specific type of sugar in milk.

Gastrointestinal diseases affect the gastrointestinal tract from the mouth to the anus. The gastrointestinal tract is an important part of the body that carries out food digestion and absorption. Some of these gastrointestinal tract diseases are acute, while others are chronic or long-lasting. Therefore, IBS and lactose intolerance are two types of gastrointestinal tract diseases.

CONTENTS

1. Overview and Key Difference
2. What is IBS  
3. What Lactose Intolerance
4. Similarities – IBS and Lactose Intolerance
5. IBS vs Lactose Intolerance in Tabular Form
6. Summary – IBS vs Lactose Intolerance

What is IBS?

Inflammatory bowel syndrome (IBS) is a medical condition that is due to chronic inflammation of the gastrointestinal tract. It involves the chronic inflammation of the deeper layers of the gastrointestinal tract. IBS further divide into two types: ulcerative colitis and Crohn’s disease. Ulcerative colitis involves the inflammation and sores in the lining of the large intestine. On the other hand, Crohn’s disease involves inflammation in the lining of the digestive tract that commonly affects the small intestine and large intestine (in rare cases). The common signs and symptoms of  IBS may include diarrhoea, fatigue, abdominal pain, cramping, bloody stool, reduced appetite, and unintended weight loss. The causes of IBS are immune system malfunction, several gene mutations, and heredity. Moreover, complications that are due to IBS include colon cancer, skin, eye, and joint inflammation, side effects of medications, primary sclerosing, cholangitis, bloody stool, and severe dehydration.

IBS is usually diagnosed through physical examination, tests for anemia or infection, stool studies, colonoscopy, flexible sigmoidoscopy, upper endoscopy, capsule endoscopy, balloon-assisted enteroscopy, X-ray, CT scan, and MRI. Furthermore, treatment options for IBS include anti-inflammatory drugs (aminosalicylates), immune system suppressors (azathioprine), biologics (infliximab (adalimumab, golimumab, etc.), antibiotics, anti-diarrhoeal medication (psyllium powder), pain relievers (acetaminophen), vitamins and supplements, nutritional support, surgery for ulcerative colitis, and surgery for Crohn’s disease.

What is Lactose Intolerance?

Lactose intolerance is a medical condition due to the body’s inability to digest one specific type of sugar in milk. People with lactose intolerance are usually unable to digest lactose in milk. This is due to the lack or absence of an enzyme called lactase, which is produced in the small intestine. The symptoms of lactose intolerance usually start from 30 minutes to 1 hour after eating foods that contain lactose, such as milk. The common signs and symptoms may include diarrhoea, nausea, vomiting, stomach cramps, bloating, and gas. Complications of lactose intolerance include osteopenia (where people have a very lower bone mineral density), osteoporosis (bones become weak), and malnutrition.

Moreover, lactose intolerance can be diagnosed through physical examination, hydrogen breath test, lactose intolerance test, and imaging tests. Furthermore, treatment options for lactose intolerance include treating underlying conditions, limiting lactose in the diet, taking lactase enzymes from outside, and alternative medicine (probiotics).

What are the Similarities Between IBS and Lactose Intolerance?

• IBS and lactose intolerance are two types of gastrointestinal tract diseases.
• They are also known as digestive diseases.
• Both diseases may have similar symptoms, such as diarrhoea, abdominal pain, cramping, etc.
• They can cause complications.
• Both diseases can be diagnosed through physical examination and imaging tests.
• They are treated through specific medications and lifestyle and home remedies.

What is the Difference Between IBS and Lactose Intolerance?

IBS is a medical condition caused due to chronic inflammation of the gastrointestinal tract, while lactose intolerance is a medical condition caused due to the body’s inability to digest one specific type of sugar in milk. Thus, this is the key difference IBS and lactose intolerance. Furthermore, complications resulting from IBS include colon cancer, skin, eye and joint inflammation, medication side effects, primary sclerosing, cholangitis, bloody stool, and severe dehydration. On the other hand, the complications that result from lactose intolerance include osteopenia (where people have a very lower bone mineral density), osteoporosis (bones become weak), and malnutrition.

The below infographic presents the differences between IBS and lactose intolerance in tabular form for side-by-side comparison.

Summary – IBS vs Lactose Intolerance

IBS and lactose intolerance are two types of gastrointestinal tract diseases. Though they have similar symptoms, they are different from each other. IBS refers to a medical condition due to chronic inflammation of the gastrointestinal tract. Lactose intolerance refers to a medical condition due to the body’s inability to digest one specific type of sugar called lactose in milk. So, this is the key difference between IBS and lactose intolerance.

Reference:

1. “What Is Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD)?” Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 13 Apr. 2022.
2. “Lactose Intolerance.” Mayo Clinic, Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research, 5 Mar. 2022.

Image Courtesy:

1. “Inflammatory Bowel Disease MTK” By WolfpackBME – Own work (CC BY-SA 4.0) via Commons Wikimedia
2. “Worldwide prevalence of lactose intolerance in recent populations” By NmiPortal – Own work / Food Intolerance Network (CC BY-SA 3.0) via Commons Wikimedia