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 aren’t the only thing that eats it. You are full of bacteria which CAN break down, but not in the same way your lactase does… it doesn’t care that it spits out a bunch of byproduct gas. That gas causes inflammation in your gut and all the symptoms you are mentioning.