CAUSES (biochemistry behind it) AND SYMPTOMS

Lactose:
- A type of sugar found in milk and other dairy products.
- Is a polysaccharide made up by glucose and galactose.

Lactaste:
Degrades lactose into smaller components in the small intestine, so that the body can absorbed them more easily.

Symptoms:
- Often occur 30 minutes to 2 hours after consumption of lactose-containing products.
- Could be relieved by abstaining from lactose-containing products.
- Increased intake of lactose-containing products could worsen the condition.
- Includes:

• Abdominal bloating
• Abdominal cramps
• Diarrhea
• Gas (flatulence)
• Nausea

Could result in slow growth or weight loss in children or infants.

If someone is lactose intolerant, the lactose consumed by him/her is unable to break down into smaller components completely in the small intestine, due to the lack or insufficient amount of lactase in the small intestine. This may result in unpleasant reactions when the lactose that is not broken down enters the large intestine e.g. wind/passing gas.

In the large intestine, the lactose is degraded by bacteria to lactic acid, short chained fatty acids and wind gases such as methane, hydrogen and carbon dioxide. Some of the hydrogen is taken in by the large intestine into the body and expelled out via the lungs. However most of it is used up by other bacteria in the large intestine. A small portion of hydrogen or methane is discharged by the body in the form of flatulence(wind/passing gas)

At the same time, unbroken lactose in the large intestine could also draw water from the cells into the gut via osmosis, hence leading to loose watery stools(diarrhea).

Undesirable digestion problems may happen. Length and intensity of symptoms could differ from individual to individual, and subjected to the amount consumed.