Lactose intolerance
Health / / July 04, 2021
We have heard a lot about lactose intolerance, but what is really lactose intolerance? What are the symptoms caused by lactose? lactose intolerance? and is the i the samelactose tolerance that cow's milk intolerance? We will answer all these questions here.
While it is believed that lactose intolerance It is a new condition, the reality is that it has always existed, the reason why it has been so mentioned in recent decades is because, relatively, it was discovered recently, and it is believed that one of the causes of the high mortality of children in past centuries was precisely due to to one lactose intolerance, a condition that was unknown.
The lactose intolerance is caused by poor absorption of the lactose due to the inability of the intestine to assimilate or digest the sugar contained in dairy products. This inability is due to the fact that the small intestine does not produce enough of the enzyme known as lactase, the lack of said enzyme prevents the lactase is digested correctly and reaches the colon without being absorbed.
When it is lactose intolerant and this reaches the large intestine without being previously digested, it is fermented by bacteria called saprophytes resulting in the production of gases and causing the characteristic symptoms of intolerance to lactose.
Those people who suffer from lactose intolerance they may experience generalized or concentrated discomfort in the abdomen area when consuming products containing lactose such as cream, yogurt, cheeses, cream, etc. some of the most common symptoms are:
- Abdominal pain
- Inflammation or bloating in the abdomen.
- Gases
- Sickness
- Diarrhea
These symptoms can occur within 30 minutes to 2 hours, which is how long it usually takes to lactose to reach the colon or large intestine. It is important to mention that not all people who suffer from malabsorption of lactose They present physical symptoms, and these may vary depending on the patient, the amount of lactose consumed and the presence of other gastrointestinal ailments.
It is also important to clarify that the lactose intolerance and the cow's milk intolerance are different conditions, since, unlike the ilactose tolerance which is the inability to digest it, the icow's milk tolerance It is an allergy to the proteins that this product contains, not to the lactose.