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Lactase is an enzyme that breaks down lactose in milk and is produced by various organisms. Most people are born producing it, but as they age, they consume less, leading to lactose intolerance. Lactase supplements come in different forms, and lactase deficiency can be treated through diet and lifestyle changes. Lactase is also used commercially to reduce lactose in dairy products and in laboratories.
Lactase is an enzyme that breaks down lactose, the main sugar in milk. It is produced in different ways by many different types of organisms, but in humans it is produced by the cells lining the small intestine. Most people are born producing it, but often consume less as they age, which leads to lactose intolerance. This enzyme is produced commercially as a dietary supplement, but also has a number of industrial and scientific uses.
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Many things produce this enzyme, including fungi, bacteria and mammals. As a result, there are many different types of lactase, which vary slightly in terms of their ideal environment, including the pH they need to live. This is one reason why lactase supplements come in different forms, such as pills and liquids. The type used in making supplement pills can generally live in a higher pH environment than that used in making drops, making them more suited to go directly into the acidic environment of the stomach. Some of the more common types of this enzyme are Kluyveromyces lactis, Kluyveromyces fragilis and Aspergillis oryzae.
Lactase deficiency
Almost everyone is born producing lactase, as it is needed to digest breast milk. About two-thirds of people gradually earn less as they get older and may stop doing so altogether as adults. This leads to adult-type hypolactasia or lactose intolerance. Whether or not someone will develop lactose intolerance is generally determined genetically and can be influenced by ethnicity. For example, about 90% of Chinese, 70% of African Americans and 50% of Spanish are lactose intolerant, but only about 10% of Caucasian Americans, 10% of Tutsi and less than 5% of Swedes are . This is thought to reflect evolutionary changes in people who lived in societies with cows or dairy industries.
Rarely, a person can be born with lactase deficiency, also known as congenital absence, due to a mutation in the specific gene responsible for its production. This is usually identified shortly after birth and can be treated or mitigated. Diseases that destroy the lining of the small intestine can also cause a deficiency by destroying the cells’ ability to produce the enzyme.
Supplements and Treatments
There is no treatment that can increase the body’s ability to produce this enzyme. However, the symptoms of lactose intolerance can be controlled easily through diet and lifestyle changes. Avoiding milk, drinking low-lactose milk, or using supplements can help prevent gastrointestinal discomfort and symptoms. Although the standard tablet strength is around 6000-9000 IU, people may need to take more or less depending on the severity of their lactose intolerance, the amount and type of food consumed, and their personal gastrointestinal health , among other things. There are no known side effects or drug interactions with this substance, but people can have individual sensitivities.
Industrial uses
In addition to being used for supplements, lactase is used commercially to reduce the amount of lactose in dairy products before they are consumed, such as low-lactose milk. The way it modifies lactose changes the taste and action of dairy products, so it’s added to some milk-based syrups and flavored milks to make them sweeter, longer-lasting, and less susceptible to bacterial damage. It is also used to smooth out the texture of some ice creams. In laboratories, lactase is commonly used in screening for different types of bacteria.
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