| Lactase (Lactose Intolerance Enzyme ) |
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Lactase, Lactose Intolerance Enzyme
An intestinal enzyme that is needed to digest lactose. The lack of
lactase results in what is called Lactose Maldigestion .
Some people do not produce enough lactase and are often referred to
as lactose intolerant, and symptoms may include cramps, gas as well
as diarrhea.
Lactose intolerance occurs when the small intestine does not produce
enough of the enzyme lactase. Babies' bodies produce this enzyme so
they can digest milk, including breast milk. Before humans became
dairy farmers, most people did not continue to drink milk, so their
bodies did not produce lactase after early childhood.
People from cultures in which adult consumption of milk and milk
products occurred earliest are less likely to suffer from lactose
intolerance than those from areas where dairy farming began more
recently. As a result, lactose intolerance is more common in Asian,
African, African-American, Native American, and Mediterranean
populations than it is among northern and western Europeans.
Lactose intolerance can begin at various times in life. In Caucasians, it
usually starts to affect children older than age 5. In African-Americans,
lactose intolerance often occurs as early as age 2.
The main symptoms include stomach cramps, wind, bloating, nausea
and bouts of diarrhoea.
The diarrhoea usually begins up to 2 hours after eating dairy products.
An intestinal enzyme that is needed to digest lactose. The lack of
lactase results in what is called Lactose Maldigestion .
Some people do not produce enough lactase and are often referred to
as lactose intolerant, and symptoms may include cramps, gas as well
as diarrhea.
Lactose intolerance occurs when the small intestine does not produce
enough of the enzyme lactase. Babies' bodies produce this enzyme so
they can digest milk, including breast milk. Before humans became
dairy farmers, most people did not continue to drink milk, so their
bodies did not produce lactase after early childhood.
People from cultures in which adult consumption of milk and milk
products occurred earliest are less likely to suffer from lactose
intolerance than those from areas where dairy farming began more
recently. As a result, lactose intolerance is more common in Asian,
African, African-American, Native American, and Mediterranean
populations than it is among northern and western Europeans.
Lactose intolerance can begin at various times in life. In Caucasians, it
usually starts to affect children older than age 5. In African-Americans,
lactose intolerance often occurs as early as age 2.
The main symptoms include stomach cramps, wind, bloating, nausea
and bouts of diarrhoea.
The diarrhoea usually begins up to 2 hours after eating dairy products.
The condition is normally diagnosed with a lactose tolerance test, a hydrogen breath test, and test for stool acidity.
The lactose tolerance test involves the patient not eating prior to the test and then drinking a liquid containing lactose. The
patient's blood glucose is measured in the following two hours to assess how the person is digesting the lactose.
The hydrogen breath test measures the level of hydrogen on a patient's breath after drinking a lactose drink. High levels of
hydrogen indicate lactose intolerance. This is due to larger amounts of this gas being produced in the bowel because of a
failure of the digestive system to break down lactose.
The stool acidity test is mainly used for infants whose samples can indicate the presence of undigested lactose.
Lactase deficiency may also occur as a result of intestinal diseases such as celiac sprue and gastroenteritis, or it may follow
gastroduodenal surgery. Temporary lactase deficiency can result from viral and bacterial enteritis, especially in children, when
the mucosal cells of the intestine are injured.
People with lactose intolerance are advised to carefully read food labels to check for diary additives. Beware of foods which
contain milk powder, non-fat milk powder, milk solids, whey and curds.
There are a number of ways to deal with lactose intolerance. Lactose-reduced milk is available or lactase drops can easily be
added to regular milk to reduce lactose levels. Lactase drops, capsules, and tablets can also be taken directly as needed.
The lactose tolerance test involves the patient not eating prior to the test and then drinking a liquid containing lactose. The
patient's blood glucose is measured in the following two hours to assess how the person is digesting the lactose.
The hydrogen breath test measures the level of hydrogen on a patient's breath after drinking a lactose drink. High levels of
hydrogen indicate lactose intolerance. This is due to larger amounts of this gas being produced in the bowel because of a
failure of the digestive system to break down lactose.
The stool acidity test is mainly used for infants whose samples can indicate the presence of undigested lactose.
Lactase deficiency may also occur as a result of intestinal diseases such as celiac sprue and gastroenteritis, or it may follow
gastroduodenal surgery. Temporary lactase deficiency can result from viral and bacterial enteritis, especially in children, when
the mucosal cells of the intestine are injured.
People with lactose intolerance are advised to carefully read food labels to check for diary additives. Beware of foods which
contain milk powder, non-fat milk powder, milk solids, whey and curds.
There are a number of ways to deal with lactose intolerance. Lactose-reduced milk is available or lactase drops can easily be
added to regular milk to reduce lactose levels. Lactase drops, capsules, and tablets can also be taken directly as needed.