Beyond Celiac reported that there is a connection between lactose intolerance and Celiac Disease. Here's why: * In newly diagnosed celiac disease patients, secondary lactose intolerance is common due to the loss of lactase, an enzyme that digests milk sugar along the lining of the small intestine * The damage that gluten causes in the small intestine is the main factor in the lack of lactase for people with celiac disease * While following a strict gluten-free diet, the gut is able to heal, making lactose intolerance temporary in most celiac disease patients