Question

A person will be lactose intolerant only if he or she __________.

Answer 1

Lacks the intestinal enzyme lactase

Answer 2

Answer:

A person will be lactose intolerant if they do not have the lactase enzyme.

Explanation:

Lactose is milk sugar, in technical terms, it is a carbohydrate formed by galactose and glucose. It is estimated that 75% of the world's population suffers from lactose intolerance, a digestive disorder in which carriers have partial or complete difficulty digesting sugar in milk and milk derivatives.

Lactase is the enzyme responsible for breaking down lactose in the blood, making sugar digestion easier. When there is a lack or insufficient amount of lactase in the body, sugar reaches the large intestine unchanged and accumulates.

Bacteria that produce lactic acid and gases ferment the accumulated lactose, leading to greater water retention, causing diarrhea, bloating and abdominal pain. This is the face of lactose intolerance.