Structural Biochemistry, Lactose Intolerance

Lactose Intolerance, commonly known as milk intolerance or dairy product intolerance, is an inability to digest lactose in small intestines. Lactose, a type of disaccharides sugar consisting of galactose bound to glucose, is commonly found in milk and other dairy products. The absorption necessitates the hydrolysis of lactose to it's components by the enzyme lactase. This is the enzyme not present or the absorption does not occur correctly in those with lactose intolerance. [1]

Lactose structure (Image: Yikrazuul, Public domain)

Cause
Lactose intolerance is very common among people. The cause is the deficiency of lactase and it is because of both genetic and environmental induced factors

Symptoms

• Diarrhea
• Flatulence
• Abdominal bloating
• Abdominal cramps
• Nausea

[2]

Dairy products
If one has diagnose with lactose intolerance, it is better to not eat dairy food. Here is a list of common dairy food that should be avoided:

• Milk
• Butter
• Cheese
• Casein
• Yogurt
• Gelato
• Ice Cream

Management
The main strategy employed by those with lactose intolerance is to restrict their diet by not consuming products containing dairy. This can be harmful for it can lead to a diet without the recommended daily dose of calcium, though this can be easily supplemented. Symptoms can be slightly reduced when dairy is taken in with other nutrients. [1]

Reference

• ↑ a b Timothy J. Wilt, et al. "Systematic Review: Effective Management Strategies For Lactose Intolerance." Annals Of Internal Medicine 152.12 (2010): 797-803.
• ↑ http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmedhealth/PMH0001321/

Where this page came from

This page was imported from Wikibooks. From “Structural Biochemistry” on Wikibooks, by its contributors, under CC BY-SA 4.0. Changed here: set as a page; navigation and edit links left out; each image under its own licence, credited in its caption.

Nobody has written it yet — it is the source material at a new address, which is why search engines are asked to skip it and why no one earns from it. It is up for grabs: take it on, and it is yours to rewrite and to earn from.