Title: The Science Behind Lactose Intolerance
Headings: The Science Behind Lactose Intolerance
Biotechnology
The Science Behind Lactose Intolerance
Elizabeth Paine, PhD
Lactose intolerance
What causes lactose intolerance symptoms?
Lactose intolerance is the original phenotype
What is the evolutionary advantage of being able to produce lactase as an adult?
References

Content: Once people stop producing lactase, they become lactose intolerant. They cannot comfortably digest dairy products that contain lactose, or are limited in the amount of dairy they can comfortably consume. People can also become lactose intolerant because they have a condition that damages the lactase-producing cells in their intestines. For example, people with celiac disease have an immune reaction to the gluten protein found in some grain. Over time, this immune reaction damages the intestinal lining to the point that it no longer produces lactase. Lactose intolerance should not be confused with lactase deficiency, which is relatively rare. People who are lactase deficient are said to have a “congenital lactase deficiency"; throughout their lives they are unable to make any functional lactase enzyme. The presence of a mutation that creates a stop codon in the lactase gene is one example of how this type of lactase deficiency occurs. What causes lactose intolerance symptoms?