Lactose intolerance appears when the body cannot correctly digest lactose (a natural sugar present in milk and dairy products). In this case lactose passes through the intestine without being digested and is fermented by the bacteria which inhabit the intestine producing gas, diarrhoea and abdominal discomfort.

Fermented lactose bacteria

The probiotic bacteria contained in FLORA DIEZ (Bifidobacterium lactis, Lactobacillus rhamnosus and Bifidobacterium longum ES1) are fermented lactose bacteria, which are beneficial to our digestive system and constitute part of our intestinal flora, helping us to digest many nutrients. Although the names of the bacteria put one in mind of lactose, they do not contain lactose or lactose derivatives, and as such are completely appropriate for people with lactose intolerance. The product has been certified, by an independent laboratory, as being completely free of lactose.

What is lactose?

Lactose is a natural sugar that is present in milk and dairy products. In order to digest it our body manufactures an enzyme that allows the lactose to be transformed into smaller glucose and galactose molecules.

Lactose intolerance affects our metabolism and occurs when the body cannot correctly digest this sugar. In this case, lactose passes through the intestine undigested and is fermented by the bacteria that inhabit it, producing gas, diarrhoea, and abdominal discomfort. In this fermentation, toxic agents are generated which behave in a similar way to those that produce gastroenteritis.

The most common symptoms are: abdominal pain, abdominal swelling, flatulence, diarrhoea and vomiting, although on occasions it may manifest itself as difficulty concentrating, headaches, vertigo, muscular aches, eczema, rhinitis and sinusitis.

Which symptoms can appear?

Important fact: 70% of the population do not produce enough lactase, while 28% cannot digest lactose, and thus cannot correctly digest milk or dairy products. This deficit in the metabolism affects, to a greater extent, people from the Southern Hemisphere, Asia, and Africa, and generally appears from the age of 3 onwards and manifests itself in difficulties digesting lactose and insufficient production of the enzyme lactase.

To diagnose lactose intolerance in any of its forms, various methods are used. Simplest consists of eliminating lactose from the diet and evaluating any reduction in symptoms. The most common diagnostic methods include:

· Hydrogen breath test (most used method)

· Blood test for too high levels of lactose

· Small intestine biopsy

· Genetic testing

In some cases, it is necessary to remove all foodstuffs that contain milk or dairy products from the diet in cases where patients are extremely sensitive. In other cases where the patient is less sensitive, small quantities of lactose may be tolerated in the diet. Lactase deficit varies from person to person, and even changes throughout the life of the sufferer, thus it is necessary to investigate the degree of intolerance of each person and establish the type and quantity of lactose that each person can consume.