Lactase intolerance

Lactase intolerance irritable colon (increased intestinal peristalsis), abdominal cramp, distension, flatulence, diarrhea... 

Digestion of lactose is facilitated by the p glycosidase lactase A deficiency of this enzyme makes it difficult to digest lactose and causes abdominal discomfort Lactose intolerance is a genetic trait it is treatable through over the counter formulations of lac tase and by limiting the amount of milk m the diet... 

A much more common metabolic disorder, lactose intolerance, occurs commonly in most parts of the world (notable exceptions being some parts of Africa and northern Europe). Lactose intolerance is an inability to digest lactose because of the absence of the enzyme lactase in the intestines of adults. The symptoms of this disorder, which include diarrhea and general discomfort, can be relieved by eliminating milk from the diet. 

Noninfectious causes of acute diarrhea include drugs and toxins (Table 18-3), laxative abuse, food intolerance, irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), inflammatory bowel disease, ischemic bowel disease, lactase deficiency, Whipple s disease, pernicious anemia, diabetes mellitus, malabsorption, fecal impaction, diverticulosis, and celiac sprue. 

Food intolerance occurs when a food ingredient cannot be metabolised. The commonest food intolerance is lactose intolerance. This occurs when the enzyme lactase is absent. This happens when humans do not consume milk after weaning a state which is the norm in most of Asia. Thus it is possible that the bulk of the world s population is lactose intolerant. 

Some individuals are unable to metabolise lactose and are lactose intolerant. This is because they lack the enzyme lactase that is needed to metabolise lactose. Lactose intolerance is common in those parts of the world where humans do not consume any dairy products after weaning. In practice this means in Asia, which means that most of the world s population might be lactose intolerant. It is possible to produce lactose removed skim milk. Another approach with lactose is to hydrolyse it to its constituent monosaccharides. As well as avoiding lactose intolerance this allows a syrup to be produced from cheese whey. These syrups are offered as an ingredient for toffees and caramels. 

Enzymes are involved in many functions of the human body, including digestion and metabolism. For example, the enzyme lactase is responsible for catalyzing the breakdown of lactose, a sugar found in milk. People who are lactose-intolerant are usually missing lactase, or they have insufficient amounts. If you are lactose-intolerant, you can take commercially produced supplements that contain lactase. 

Human disorders and conditions are sometimes caused by the lack of an enzyme. For example, lactose intolerance is caused by low concentrations of lactase, an enzyme that breaks down lactose (the sugar in milk). Find out about lactose intolerance or another condition that is caused by a missing enzyme. How are the conditions diagnosed Have treatments been developed How effective are the treatments ... 

Inborn or acquired (postinfection) enzyme deficiencies, e.g., deficiency of lactase, may lead to milk intolerance. 

In contrast to sulfonylureas and thiazolidinediones, miglitol does not enhance insulin secretion. Miglitol has minor inhibitory activity against lactase and, at recommended doses, would not be expected to induce lactose intolerance. 

Galactose intolerance Voriconazole tablets contain lactose and should not be given to patients with rare hereditary problems of galactose intolerance, Lapp lactase deficiency, or glucose-galactose malabsorption. 

Small-intestine lactase (GH 1), the absence of which is associated with lactose intolerance in a large proportion of the adult population, was probed with monodeoxy as well as selected mono-O-methyl derivatives in the galactose moiety of methyl lactosides.112 This enzyme required hydroxyl groups at C-2 and also C-3, while neither the presence of a 4-OH group nor a specific configuration at C-4 was prerequisites for successful hydrolysis. A 6 -deoxy lactoside was readily hydrolyzed, but the absence of 6-OH in the gluco moiety caused it to be a poor substrate. 

Lactases can be used in the production of milk for lactose-intolerant people,... 

Most lactose-intolerant people are too poor to buy lactase-treated milk. 

Many i rsons from non-Eastern European-derived cultures are unable to tolerate large quantities of the milk sugar lactose because of the absence of enough of the active digestive enzyme, lactase. In these persons, consumption of lactose results in effects similar to those described for oligosaccharide consumption. Severe intolerance can result in malabsorption of all nutrients from the diet due to diarrhea. 

The nutritional and physiological effects of lactose in the diet have become of major interest to health professionals and the public with the finding that about 70% of the world population has low levels of lactase activity in the intestine and, in many cases, an intolerance to lactose. A voluminous literature has developed (Delmont 1983 Renner 1983 Paige and Bayless 1981). Most problems with lactose digestion are attributable to the lactose molecule, but others may arise from the galactose moiety liberated on hydrolysis. 

There are several forms of intolerance to lactose and galactose. Primary adult lactase deficiency is a normal age-related decrease in lactase activity seen in the majority of adults. Secondary lactase deficiency is a transient state of low enzyme activity following injury to the intestinal mucosa as a result of diseases such as celiac sprue, infectious gastroenteritis, and protein-calorie malnutrition. The last two states are common conditions (Dahlqvist 1983). 

A review of medical research has led to the conclusion that ethnic differences concerning lactose intolerance are largely genetic in origin. A culture historical hypothesis has been offered to explain the present-day occurrence of various Old World groups with high and low incidences of lactose intolerance based on milk use (Simoons 1981). It is currently believed that the decline in lactase activity with age is determined by an autosomal recessive gene and is not influenced by the amount of lactose consumed. 

Bayless, T. M. and Rosensweig. 1966. A racial difference in incidence of lactase deficiency. A survey of milk intolerance and lactase deficiency in healthy adult males. JAMA 197, 968-972. 

Carbohydrate abnormalities, such as renal glycosuria (a transport defect), pentosuria (enzyme deficiency, xylitol dehydrogenase I. lactase deficiencies, fructose intolerance, galactosemia, galacloki-nase deficiency, oxalosis, and several glycogenoses (von Gierke s, Forbes . Andersen s, Hers s. and Tarui s diseases). 

Lactose intolerance A condition caused by the body s inability to make lactase and digest lactose. 

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