why does the *lack* of an enzyme result in gas?

Question

Shouldn’t more thorough digestion from a gut biome result in more carbon dioxide production? Why does incomplete digestion of lactose and fructose and whatever’s in onions result in bloating and gas?

In: 5

Answer 1

The key is that lack of enzyme only = incomplete digestion of lactose *by you*.

That means more lactose making it through into your intestines and becoming food for all the intestinal bacteria who can digest it just fine. These bacteria have a field day with the extra food supply of intact lactose reaching them, and they eat and multiply like crazy.

All that gas is bacteria farts, not the product of you yourself digesting the lactose.