Lactase deficiency disorders

Osmotic diarrhoea occurs when a non-absorbable substance draws fluid into the intestine by osmosis, for example lactase deficiency, when unabsorbed lactose remains in the intestine. This type of problem also occurs in malabsorption disorders, for example in celiac disease. 

Lactose is sometimes detected in the urine of women during lactation and occasionally toward the end of pregnancy. Patients with lactase deficiency, a common disorder caused by a congenital or acquired deficiency of intestinal lactase, exhibit abdominal pain, diarrhea, and lactose in the urine. 

Lactose Intolerance (Milk Intolerance) Lactose intolerance is the most common disorder of carbohydrate absorption. Lactase deficiency occurs in the majority of human adults throughout the world and appears to be genetically determined. The prevalence is high in persons of African and Asian ancestry ( 65%) and low in persons of Northern European ancestry. Lactase deficiency in which mucosal lactase levels are low or absent at birth... 

A deficiency in the enzyme lactase give rise to lactose intolerance, and this disorder occurs most commonly among Afro-Americans, Asians, Native Americans and Hispanics. 

Sucrase-isomaltase deficiency usually presents clinically in infancy when sucrose and fruit are introduced in the diet, " but sometimes first presents in adulthood. The deficiency is rare in Caucasians, but more common in Eskimo groups. Deficiencies of both lactase and sucrase-isomaltase may occur secondary to other small bowel diseases (e.g., cehac disease, Crohn s disease,or acute gastroenteritis). Trehalase deficiency is a rare disorder,except in Greenland, where it occurs in 8% of the population. It is manifested by diarrhea following the ingestion of mushrooms. 

Enzymes are now used in medicine to treat disorders that result from their deficiency. For example, lactase is an enzyme that breaks down mUk sugar, which is called lactose, so that the two smaller sugar molecules of which it is composed can be absorbed by the digestive tract. Certain people who suffer from lactose intolerance gradually lose the ability to make the enzyme lactase as they mature. 

---