Milk product intolerance

Nutritional Value of Milk Products. Milk is considered one of the principal sources of nutrition for humans. Some people are intolerant to one or more components of milk so must avoid the product or consume a treated product. One example is intolerance to lactose in milk. Fluid milk is available in which the lactose has been treated to make it more digestible. The consumption of milk fat, either in fluid milk or in products derived from milk, has decreased markedly in the 1990s. Whole milk sales decreased 12% between 1985 and 1988, whereas the sales of low fat milk increased 165%, and skimmed milk sales increased 48% (35). Nutritionists have recommended that fat consumed provide no more than 30 calories, and that consumption of calories be reduced. Generally, a daily diet of 2000—3000 cal/d is needed depending on many variables, such as gender, type of work, age, body responses, exercise, etc. Further, there is concern about cholesterol [57-88-5] and density of fat consumed. Complete information on the nutritive value of milk and milk products is provided on product labels (36) (see also Table 4). 

C5. Chaptal, J., Jean, R., Dossa, D., Bonnet, H., Paulet, A. Crastes de, and Navarro, M, Coeliac disease with intolerance of the gliadin of wheat and oats and of milk products. P6diatrie 12, 737-747 (1957). 

Lactose Lactase, fl-galactosidase Milk Products destined to lactose intolerant persons Cow and milk diagnosis... 

Scrimshaw NS, Murray EB The acceptability of milk and milk products in populations with a high prevalence of lactose intolerance. Am J Clin Nutr 48 1083-1159,1988. 

Lactose hydrolysis in milk (milk products for lactose intolerant people) Lactase... 

Many adults, and some children, are unable to hydrolyze lactose because they do not make the enzyme lactase. This condition, which affects 20% of the population of the United States, is known as lactose intolerance. Undigested lactose remains in the intestinal tract and causes cramping and diarrhea that can eventually lead to dehydration. Some of the lactose is metabolized by intestinal bacteria that release organic acids and CO2 gas into the intestines, causing further discomfort. Lactose intolerance is unpleasant, but its effects can be avoided by a diet that excludes milk and milk products. Alternatively, the enzyme that hydrolyzes lactose is available in tablet form. When ingested with dairy products it breaks down the lactose, preventing symptoms. 

The malabsorption of specific substances tends to occur in certain w ell-defined conditions such as vitamin B, malabsorption which leads to pernicious anaemia. This occurs when intrinsic factor production is lost due to gastric mucosal atrophy. Patients may also have inherited deficiencies of intestinal saccharidases such as lactase which cause malabsorption when the patient drinks milk or cats milk products. This is known as lactose intolerance. 

In many humans the enzyme lactase, which digests the milk sugar lactose to galactose and glucose, disappears from the intestinal mucosal cells after age 4 to 6, when milk drinking usually decreases. This causes lactose intolerance, a condition in which ingestion of milk or lactose-containing milk products causes intestinal distress, because of bacterial action on the lactose that accumulates. 

The intestinal juice also contains enzymes to break down individual disaccharides. The one to break down lactose is very active in babies, as might be expected, but less so in adults. Its low activity in many Oriental people is responsible for lactose intolerance - milk products cause problems. 

People of Chinese descent cannot usually consume milk products as their bodies are unable to digest milk sugar (lactose). This phenomenon is called lactose intolerance and a common symptom after consumption is diarrhea. However, many people in China drink milk despite the prevalence of lactose intolerance, and since drinking milk can be considered a mark of prestige, milk consumption has been on the rise in modem China. Milk produced in China is used in the production of chocolate, cookies and confectionery, and the melamine scandal caused a major public outcry all over the world. 

Infant Formulas. A wide variety of infant formulas are marketed that all attempt to approximate the composition of breast milk. Some are based on soy or other proteins for inhmts who are lactose intolerant or aUei ic to milk products. None of the products are identical to breast milk, which is a species-specific formulation for human babies. Each animal species has a unique milk formulation for its young. Also, breast milk can supply maternal antibodies, which can protect the infimt from infection. For the foregoing reasons and others, many women choose to breast-feed. Some of these women will rely on breast pumps for regular or occasional use. 

Role of Fermented Milk Products in Milk Intolerance and Other Clinical Conditions... 

The term milk intolerance includes lactose intolerance and other forms of intolerance associated with milk protein allergies. While much work has been done on the role of fermented milk products in the management of lactose intolerance, it is not known whether fermentation of milk reduces other forms of intolerance associated with milk. 

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