Answer to Question #300193 in Biochemistry for Kristina

Question

What is the cause of lactose intolerance

Answer 1

The reson is a decrease in the level of lactase, an enzyme necessary for the proper digestion of lactose, a disaccharide found in dairy products. This is due to genetic predisposition or the influence of environmental factors. In any case, the symptoms are caused by an insufficient level of lactase in the duodenal mucosa. Lactose, as a disaccharide, cannot be directly absorbed through the wall of the small intestine into the blood, and in the absence of lactase, the molecules of this sugar pass without enzymatic cleavage into the large intestine. Bacteria in the colon can metabolize lactose and release a mixture of gases (hydrogen, carbon dioxide and methane) in the process, leading to various intestinal disorders.