CHEMICAL CONNECTIONS 2: LACTOSE INTOLERANCE OR LACTASE

PERSISTENCE

1. WRITE AN INFERENCE ABOUT THE ARTICLE READ. MAKE 20-30

SENTENCES.

This article is about a certain condition called “Lactose Tolerance or

Lactase Persistence”. This condition is cause by the lack of enzyme
“lactase”, which needed to hydrolyze lactose to galactose and glucose.
The lactose is a principal carbohydrate in milk. Human mother milk
obtained by nursing infants 7% - 8% lactose, almost double the 4% - 5%
lactose that can be found in cow’s milk. Lactose digestion and
absorption is a problem for many people for many years. This condition
can be caused by a genetic effect, by physiological decline through aging,
or by injuries to the mucosa lining the intestines. When lactose
molecules remains in our intestines undigested, they can attract water
to themselves, causing fullness, discomfort, cramping, nausea, and
diarrhea. Bacterial fermentation of lactose further along the intestinal
tract produces an acid called lactic acid and gas, adding the discomfort.
Many adults cannot drink milk without the feeling of discomfort because
of inadequate amounts of the enzyme lactase within their body. The
level of lactase in humans can vary through age. Most of the children
have a sufficient amount of lactase during the early years of their life
because milk is a much needed source of calcium in their diet. When a
person turns into an adult, the enzyme level decreases which can cause
the development of lactose intolerance. Which explains the change in
milk drinking habits of many adults. Some researchers claims that the
estimate of one to three adult Americans exhibits a degree of lactose
intolerance. Lactose tolerance is not caused by an allergy situation. Food
allergies arise when a person’s immune system responds to an invading
allergen. On the other hand, Lactose intolerance does not involve the
body’s immune system. Rather, it relates to enzymatic condition which is
the lack of enzyme lactase. The level on enzymes lactase in humans
varies widely among ethnic groups, indicating that the trait is genetically
determined (inherited). This condition is lowest among Scandinavians
and other northern Europeans and highest among native North
Americans, Southeast Asians, Africans and Greeks. An alternate analysis
of milk drinking versus non milk drinking populations exist. Being able to
drink milk is considered to be abnormal situation, as less than 40% of the
world’s total adult population retain the ability to digest milk (lactose)
after adulthood. Thus more than 60% of adults (the majority) are non-
milk drinkers. When a milk drinking ability continues in adulthood it is
called “Lactose Persistence”. No other species but humans, as adults can
drink and then only some of them. There are no milk-drinking adult
animals except and only baby animals can drink. For lactose intolerant
people, a lactose free diet is hard to pursue because lactose is an
ingredient in many non-dairy products such as cereals, breads, breakfast
drinks, instant potatoes, and salad dressings. In addition, lactose, as a
filler to some medications. It is estimated that 20% of prescription drugs
and 5% of non-prescriptions medications contains lactose.

2. AS A NURSING STUDENT, HOW IMPORTANT IS LACTOSE

INTOLERANCE AND LACTASE PERSISTENCE IN YOUR FIELD OF
STUDIES?
As a nursing student, it is vital for us to have a knowledge about
this certain condition called Lactose Intolerance and Lactase
Persistence. And this knowledge can help me in my future career
as a nurse because I can help people to understand what is this
condition and I can also raise awareness and it can improve my
patient care.