INTRODUCTION

What is lactose intolerance?
Lactose intolerance is the inability of the body, like the cells lining the small intestine, to digest the lactose sugar, which is found in milk, especially from cows. Lactose is a main source of nutrition for infants and growing children. With normal lactose tolerance, which means having sufficient amounts of lactase, all of the lactose can be digested and then absorbed in the small intestine, preventing it from reaching the colon.

However, those individuals who lack or have insufficient amount of that particular intestinal enzyme that breaks down lactose, it can neither be digested nor absorbed in the small intestine and thus will end up in the colon where it will take part in the metabolism of bacteria there. These bacteria can produce chemicals that lead to diarrhea, bloated belly and abdominal pain. Lactic and other kinds of acids can also be produced to turn the stool acidic.