Lactose, commonly referred to as lactose, is the main sugar in dairy products such as milk, cheese and yogurt. It makes dairy products mild and sweet and is an important source of calories. If you produce enough enzymes, lactose is easily metabolized into simpler sugars that are absorbed in your intestines. If not, lactose intolerance develops and causes various gastrointestinal symptoms.
A can of milk next to the cheese. (Source: urfinguss / iStock / Getty Images) Lactose
Lactose is a carbohydrate called disaccharide, which is composed of two monosaccharides. Molecule. The two monosaccharides containing lactose are galactose and glucose. All female mammals, including women, produce milk containing lactose. No other animations l insects and fish can not be made into lactose. The percentage of lactose in milk is between 2% and 8%, and human milk contains more than milk and goat milk. Therefore, human milk is sweeter and has higher calories than milk from most other species. However, the sweetness of lactose is much lower than that of sucrose used to make granulated white sugar.
Metabolism
Your body begins to metabolize or break down lactose in the intestines. With the help of lactase, this is an enzyme produced and released by cells excreted in the small intestine. The enzyme attaches to lactose and cleaves it into molecules of galactose and glucose. Glucose is immediately absorbed into your blood and used by almost all cells, so they can produce energy and do their jobs. Galactose cannot be used directly by your body, so it will be further converted to glucose after additional work by lactase and other enzymes.
Potential problems
Lactose metabolism problems occur when the enzyme produced is insufficient. Lack of lactase causes lactose intolerance, which is characterized by bloating, flatulence and diarrhea. Undigested lactose spreads to the large intestine and provides a source of food for "friendly" bacteria. Bacteria ferment sucrose to break it down, producing gas and related symptoms. Galactosemia is another problem associated with lactose metabolism and is due to the inability to convert galactose to glucose. When too much galactose accumulates in the blood, it can cause damage to the brain and other organs due to the lack of certain enzymes, such as galactose kinase. Galactosemia is rare, but if not timelyIt has been found that it can cause serious problems in breastfed infants.
Recommendations
Adult lactose intolerance is not a serious or life-threatening condition, but it can cause a variety of uncomfortable and potentially embarrassing symptoms. Most people produce less lactase as they age, although the incidence of lactose intolerance in some races is much higher. More specifically, it is most common among African Americans, Asians, Hispanics, and Native Americans. If you are lactose intolerant, lactose-free milk is available in most grocery stores. You can also take dairy supplements - usually in tablet form - with dairy products or (preferably) before consumption.
