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Article: Lactose intolerance?
- Article from:
- The Malay Mail
- Article date:
- May 25, 2006
CopyrightCopyright 2006 The Malay Mail. Provided by ProQuest LLC. (Hide copyright information)
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WHAT is lactose intolerance? Lactose is the primary sugar found in
milk. Digestion of this sugar requires the enzyme lactase, which
breaks the lactose into two simpler sugars.
Lactase is produced in the small intestine, when too little or
none is produced the sugar is not digested.
It then moves into the colon, where bacteria ferments it.
This results in vomiting, flatulence (gas), abdominal discomfort,
nausea, cramps and bloating.
There are three types of lactose intolerance.
Primary lactose intolerance can begin at any age and will continue
throughout life.
In people with primary lactose intolerance, the production of
intestinal lactase will decline steadily over the course of time.
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