HLTB20H3 Lecture Notes - Lecture 10: Abdominal Pain, Osteomalacia, Bloating
Document Summary
Dietary variation via the animal milked: not directly interchangeable. All are mammals; all have lactose component, but in varying qualities: Inability to break down lactose, the sugar found in dairy products. Inability stems from lack of lactase an enzyme produced by cells in the small intestine. What does lactase do: breaks down milk sugar lactose into simpler forms of sugar (glucose and galactose) which can then be absorbed into the bloodstream. Symptoms: abdominal pain, bloating gas (flatulence, cramps, nausea, diarrhea arise. This happens because in the colon: lactose is fermented by action of colon bacteria, leads to formation of gases methane and carbon dioxide, causes the intestines to inflate and result = pain (cramps) and flatulence. Among some people ability to digest lactose declines rapidly after weaning. Falling levels of the enzyme lactase in the small intestine (turned off about 4 years of age) Commonly pathway found in all mammals may actually serve as stimulus encouraging weaning, expect that .
