Lactose Allergy

Lactose intolerance: An inability to absorb and digest lactose which is the sugar in milk results in certain gastrointestinal symptoms when milk products or pure milk are drunk or eat

Causes of lactose intolerance allergy: Glucose and galactose are the main components of Lactose. For the intestine to absorb lactose into the body, it has to be disintegrated into two smaller glucose and galactose. The cells lining the small intestine absorb the two smaller sugars. Lactase, an enzyme splits lactose into glucose and galactose. It is located on the lining of the small intestine.

Absence of lactase activity hinders the splitting of lactose (lactase deficiency) and may take three forms including developmental. Secondary and congenital. A normal digestive system breaks down the food into smaller and simpler pieces with the help of the saliva, stomach and the digestive tract enzymes... This speeds up the absorption of food into the body. Proteins, carbohydrates and other nutrients are absorbed by these enzymes to maintain metabolic balance.

Lactose has no nutritional value for adults. Its only purpose is during childhood and formative years of a child. Lactose provides nearly half of the energy requirements at the infancy stage. Therefore infants are very likely to suffer from lactose allergy even during childhood.