How Does Your Body Break Down Lactase?

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Lactose is a special sort of sugar found in milk and milk products. Our body produces an enzyme called lactase that breaks this bond between the two sugars. In breaking that bond, it breaks down the lactose, it frees these sugars. But if you don't have enough lactase there, your gut microbes will do what they're known to do: ferment the lactose,. And we see this with fiber, and we're seeing it here with lactose. Those though, our body will struggle with what these bacteria are producing.

Lactose is usually only discussed in the context of intolerance. This intolerance can make us feel bloated, gassy and uncomfortable. But from cow’s milk to yoghurt and even breast milk, lactose is everywhere! So, can it really be that bad for us?

In today’s short episode of ZOE Science & Nutrition, we’re joined by Dr Will B. to find out.

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Studies referenced in the episode:

Nature: How humans’ ability to digest milk evolved from famine and disease

PubMed Central (PMC)

Effects of Prebiotic and Probiotic Supplementation on Lactase Deficiency and Lactose Intolerance: A Systematic Review of Controlled Trials

PubMed Central (PMC)

Improving lactose digestion and symptoms of lactose intolerance with a novel galacto-oligosaccharide (RP-G28): a randomized, double-blind clinical trial

PubMed Central (PMC)

Impact of short-chain galactooligosaccharides on the gut microbiome of lactose-intolerant individuals

https://www.hopkinsmedicine.org/health/conditions-and-diseases/lactose-intolerance