In this disease the utilization of lactose in the small intestine is disturbed. Milk sugar is converted into simple sugars in the brush border of the intestinal wall with the help of the enzyme lactase and released into the blood. If there is not enough lactase, depending on the extent of the lactase deficiency, part of the absorbed lactose (milk sugar) passes into the large intestine.
The symptoms of lactose intolerance are usually flatulence, abdominal pain, diarrhoea and nausea and can also occur several hours after consumption of dairy products. In addition to gastrointestinal complaints, lactose intolerance can also manifest itself through skin complaints. It does not normally occur there and is broken down by bacteria.
The cleavage products produced in this process trigger the symptoms. These are primarily flatulence, diarrhoea and cramp-like abdominal pain. Since lactose occurs exclusively in milk and milk products, the nutritional therapeutic measure is to avoid or restrict these foods.
With some patients already small quantities of milk sugar cause complaints, with others small quantities of milk and milk products are distributed over the day, tolerated. However, milk is our crucial source of calcium and an adult’s daily requirement of 1g of milk cannot be met if milk and dairy products are completely avoided. In case of lactase deficiency, products low in lactose should be consumed if possible.
Suitable are, for example, cheeses in which the lactose content has been largely broken down during the maturing process. Sour milk products are often well tolerated despite their high lactose content because the lactose-splitting enzymes of the lactobacilli continue to act in the digestive tract after consumption, splitting the lactose and thus removing it from the intestine. Another way to ensure sufficient milk consumption despite intolerance is to consume milk low in lactose. This is produced by adding the lactose-splitting enzyme lactase to the milk and thus the lactose can be partially broken down. Another possibility is the administration of the digestive enzyme lactase in tablet form.
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