if you’re lactose intolerant, why does the lactose cause bowel distress instead of passing through inertly?

Question

I get that lactase is needed to break it down into galactose and glucose, but why does the two monosaccharides’ glycocidic linkage cause so much pain and problems during digestion if it’s isn’t broken apart?

In: 104

Answer 1

You body can’t absorb the double sugar, so the sugar goes to the colon and the bacteria go wild.

I did not know it was osmotic though, I thought it was just the irritation from the bacteria.