Lactose Intolerance
What is lactose?
Lactose is a sugar that is present in all mammalian milks: cow, goat, sheep and humans, and can also be found in many foods. It’s called milk sugar (C12, H22, O11) natural disaccharide composed of glucose and galactose.
What is lactase?
Lactase is an enzyme produced in the small intestine, which plays a vital role in the separation of lactose (a process necessary for absorption by the body) in its two basic components: glucose and galactose. If lactase levels are low or does not perform well the work unfolded, displayed difficulty digesting lactose.
What is lactose intolerance?
Lactose intolerance means that there is enough of the enzyme (lactase) in the small intestine to break down all the lactose consumed. Partially digested lactose will pass the large intestine and can cause all your symptoms: pain, bloating, diarrhea, etc. Also known as dairy intolerance, disaccharidase deficiency, lactase deficiency, milk intolerance.
Does it affect everyone equally?
The sensitivity to lactose can vary widely, some people notice the effects immediately after eating small amounts, while others have a significantly higher threshold and is more difficult to observe cause-effect relationship. The sensitivity may also change over time and with the general state of health. An acute episode of diarrhea caused by infection, can temporarily reduce lactase levels and more sensitive to lactose temporarily.
What Are the Symptoms?
Symptoms that often occur after the ingestion of dairy products:
- nausea
- abdominal pain
- spasms
- abdominal bloating and distension
- abdominal gas and flatulence
- acidic diarrhea
- Floating stools
- explosive defecation
- vomiting
- perianal redness
When did it develop?
Lactose intolerance is not dangerous and is very common in adults, most of whom to reach 20 years of age show some degree of intolerance to it (however small). This intolerance may occur at the time of birth, develop in childhood when introducing cow’s milk in the diet or later in adulthood.
To what breeds most affected?
It seems that there is a clear cause-effect relationship with the habit of drinking milk. Those people who have been traditionally “farmers”, that have fed generations of the milk of animals, have fewer cases of lactose intolerance than other people do not get used to its consumption. Most of the world’s adult population has lactase deficiency, except the people of northern and central Europe.
Sweden 1%
English 6%
Russian 15%
Spanish 15%
Arab 80%
Eskimos 83%
Mexican 83%
83% African center
Thai 98%
Source: “Disorders of carbohydrate absorption in clinical practice” Montes RG, Perman JA 1987
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