Lactose Intolerance Facts

For those of you seeking to learn more about lactose intolerance, here is a facts sheet to help you get started.

• Lactase is the enzyme responsible for breaking down lactose, and is created in the small intestine.
• Lactose is a sugar compound found in all natural milk. Lactose is made up of two other sugars called Galactose and Glucose. It is the difficulty lactase encounters in splitting these two sugars which causes lactose intolerance.
• Lactose Intolerance is also known as ‘Lactase Deficiency'.
• During the weaning period, most babies are lactose tolerant, enabling them to process lactose and causing no adverse affects.
• The greatest loss of lactose tolerance usually occurs between the ages of 2 and 5.
• Most adults in the world are lactose intolerant to a degree.
• Lactose intolerance as a disorder was only really recognised in the 1960's.
• Many people of northern European heritage have genetically developed high degrees of tolerance of lactose due to cultural practices stemming generations.
• Lactose intolerance may be a contributing factor to heartburn.
• Lactose exists in many foods other than milk, such as cheese, butter, margarine, peanut butter, cream, ice cream, bread and many more foods.
• It is thought that originally we were all lactose intolerant, but due to what is known as genetic persistence , have developed varying degrees of tolerance to lactose.
• There are pills which can be taken before eating which produce more of the enzyme lactase, therefore allowing somebody who is lactose intolerant to consume a certain amount of lactose.
• Lactose intolerance can cause such unkind symptoms as stomach cramp, excess gas, diarrhoea and even nausea.
• Lactose intolerance can often be mistaken for Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS) as the symptoms can be very similar. Many people who are in fact diagnosed with IBS are also highly lactose intolerant, therefore find cutting lactose out of their diet find their condition improves immensely.