Lactose Intolerance and Its Consequences in Calcium Metabolism

• Autor(a) principal: Barbosa, Cristiane Rickli
• Data de Publicação: 2011
• Outros Autores: Andreazzi, Marcia Aparecida
• Tipo de documento: Artigo
• Idioma: por
• Título da fonte: Saúde e Pesquisa (Online)
• Texto Completo: https://periodicos.unicesumar.edu.br/index.php/saudpesq/article/view/1338
• topic: Calcium; Lactase; Lactose.; Cálcio; Lactase; Lactose.

Lactose, a disaccharide hydrolyzed by the intestinal enzyme lactase, releases its monosaccharide components for absorption in the bloodstream. Without this enzyme, lactose is fermented in the colon causing discomfort due to intestinal distension, flatulence and diarrhea. Treatment comprises the avoidance of lactose-rich products or the ingestion of lactase enzyme included in milk products or of products from which lactose has been removed by fermentation. However, decrease in milk consumption and its derivatives may put at risk protein, riboflavin and calcium absorption. Since over 50% of adults worldwide are lactose intolerant, current analysis identifies the main causes and consequences of lactose intolerance and its relation to calcium metabolism. It also lists alternatives for the replacement of dairy products by other food rich in this mineral and, thus, the disorders caused by lactose intolerance may be better understood. Since the lack of calcium may cause future complications, this fact makes people who are intolerant to lactose to consume not only calcium-rich diets to meet their needs for this mineral but also vitamin D supplements, according to the direct influence of this vitamin on calcium metabolism.