THE lactose is a carbohydrate (sugar) found in milk. More specifically, it is a disaccharide, formed by the monosaccharides glucose and galactose.
The word "lactose" originates in Latin, where lac = milk and ose = chemistry.
Lactose is a type of sugar produced exclusively in the mammary glands of mammals, constituting about 7% of human milk and almost 5% of cow's milk.
For lactose to be digested and absorbed by the body, it needs to undergo the action of lactase, an enzyme produced by mammals that breaks down lactose into glucose and galactose.
Lactose intolerance
THE inlactose tolerance it is the inability to fully or partially digest lactose due to a lactase deficiency.
Undigested lactose is fermented by bacteria in the intestinal flora, resulting in the production of organic acids and gases that cause symptoms like:
- Diarrhea;
- Cramps;
- Flatulence;
- Abdominal pain;
- Nausea and vomiting.
Lactose intolerance in adults is quite common and affects about 40% of Brazilians and 70% of world population, whose causes are closely related to the lack of lactase production in the adult.
