{"id":346,"date":"2013-04-23T17:26:37","date_gmt":"2013-04-23T21:26:37","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.mynutriguide.com\/?p=346"},"modified":"2019-12-26T12:47:45","modified_gmt":"2019-12-26T17:47:45","slug":"lactose-intolerance","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/glutenfreeworks.com\/health\/lactose-intolerance\/","title":{"rendered":"Lactose Intolerance"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"Lactose<\/a>What Is Lactose Intolerance?<\/h2>\n

L<\/span>actose intolerance is a well known symptom of carbohydrate malabsorption characterized by inability to properly digest lactose, the sugar in milk, due to low lactase digesting activity in the small intestine.<\/p>\n

Lactase<\/strong> is an enzyme produced by specialized cells in the tips of villi within the\u00a0brush border of the small intestinal lining that\u00a0digests lactose.<\/p>\n

Lactose<\/strong> is a disaccharide, or double sugar, made up of\u00a0a molecule of glucose and a molecule of galactose (simple sugars).\u00a0Lactose\u00a0cannot be absorbed as is into the body unless it is broken down by lactase into\u00a0glucose and galactose.<\/p>\n

Q:<\/strong> How does lactose cause diarrhea?<\/p>\n

A:<\/strong>\u00a0If lactose is not broken down, undigested lactose moves into the colon where\u00a0it acts osmotically to draw water from the walls of the colon into the lumen, which causes diarrhea by the unnatural amount of water. How much water? Can be 2 liters! Meanwhile,\u00a0the normal population of colonic bacteria ferment the undigested lactose, generating short-chain fatty acids and hydrogen gas, resulting in bloating pain and flatulence.<\/p>\n

Testing for intolerance is based on the action of lactose to increase intestinal permeability.1<\/a>\u00a0Positive response to a breath hydrogen test (BHT), involving 1 – 3 hours of time post ingestion of lactose test dose, signifies malabsorption in the small intestine and fermentation in the colon. If BHT is positive before 60 minutes, the result implies bacteria is abnormally present in the small intestine, causing fermentation there.<\/p>\n

Endoscopy is used to measure activity of lactase in a tissue sample.<\/p>\n

Treatment is avoidance of milk and dairy products that contain lactose. Nevertheless, milk treated with lactase enzyme can be safely consumed. Fermented milk products like yogurt or kefir are safe because the lactose has been digested by organisms. If\u00a0there is also a problem with milk protein, then no milk is acceptable that comes from the cow or animal that is causing the allergy.<\/p>\n

What Is Lactose Intolerance In Celiac Disease and\/or Gluten Sensitivity?<\/h2>\n

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