SLIDE 2: Lactose intolerance is a condition where the body is 1.
Dietary Changes
unable to properly digest lactose, the sugar found in milk and – Limit or avoid lactose-containing foods (milk,
dairy products. This happens due to a deficiency of the cheese, cream, ice cream).
enzyme lactase, which is normally produced in the small – Choose lactose-free or low-lactose alternatives
intestine. Lactase breaks down lactose into two simpler (e.g., lactose-free milk, plant-based milk like almond
sugars, glucose and galactose, which can then be absorbed or soy).
into the bloodstream. Without enough lactase, undigested 2. Lactase Supplements
lactose passes into the colon, leading to symptoms like – Take lactase enzyme tablets or drops before eating
bloating, gas, diarrhea, and stomach cramps after consuming dairy to help digest lactose.
dairy. 3. Gradual Introduction
– Some people can tolerate small amounts of dairy.
Gradually introducing small portions may help the
SLIDE 3: Role of Lactase in Human Metabolism: body adapt.
4. Consume Dairy with Other Foods
1. Digestion of Lactose: – Eating dairy with meals (instead of on an empty
Lactase is an enzyme produced in the small intestine stomach) can slow digestion and reduce symptoms.
that specifically breaks down lactose, the main sugar 5. Calcium and Vitamin D Intake
found in milk and dairy products. – Since dairy is a main source of calcium, consider
2. Enzymatic Action: calcium-rich non-dairy foods (like leafy greens,
Lactase hydrolyzes lactose into glucose and almonds, fortified plant milks) or supplements.
galactose, two simple sugars that the body can
absorb and use. SLIDE 6: Prognosis for Lactose Intolerance:
3. Absorption and Utilization:
The prognosis for individuals with lactose intolerance is very
Glucose is directly absorbed into the good, especially with proper management. Although the
bloodstream and used by cells for energy condition is chronic and not curable, symptoms can be
production (ATP). effectively controlled through:
Galactose is transported to the liver where it
is converted into glucose or used in
biosynthetic pathways (e.g., for forming
Dietary adjustments
glycoproteins and glycolipids). Use of lactase supplements
Substitution with lactose-free or plant-based
products
4. Metabolic Importance:
Most people are able to live normal, healthy lives without
Ensures that energy from lactose is not lost. significant disruption. Long-term complications are rare, but
Prevents undigested lactose from reaching it's important to ensure adequate calcium and vitamin D
the colon, where it would be fermented by intake to prevent bone-related issues.
bacteria, leading to discomfort and gas.
With awareness and proper management, individuals typically
In summary, lactase supports proper carbohydrate experience minimal symptoms and maintain a high quality of
metabolism by enabling the body to utilize lactose as an life.
energy source and preventing digestive issues.
SLIDE 7: Statistics: According to the National Institutes of
SLIDE 4: Here are the common symptoms of lactose Health (n.d.), lactose intolerance is a condition where people
intolerance, usually occurring 30 minutes to 2 hours after cannot digest and absorb lactose, the natural sugar found in
consuming dairy: milk and dairy products. It affects approximately 65% to 68%
of the adult population worldwide, with higher prevalence in
Africa, Asia, the Middle East, and Latin America, and lower
1. Bloating
rates in Europe and North America.
– Swelling or feeling of fullness in the abdomen due
to gas buildup.
2. Gas (Flatulence) SLIDE 8: Medical Treatments or Drugs:
– Excess gas produced by fermentation of undigested
lactose in the colon.
3. Diarrhea Gene Therapy: Aims to reactivate or enhance the
– Watery stools caused by unabsorbed lactose lactase gene for a permanent solution. Still
drawing water into the intestines. experimental.
4. Stomach Cramps or Pain Microbiome/Probiotic Therapy: Uses engineered gut
– Abdominal discomfort or sharp pains due to gas bacteria to produce lactase. In clinical and animal
and intestinal movement. trials.
5. Nausea Advanced Enzyme Supplements: New, longer-lasting
– Feeling sick or queasy, sometimes accompanied by lactase pills are being developed to improve
vomiting, especially after large amounts of lactose. effectiveness.
6. Rumbling or Gurgling Sounds Small Molecule Therapies: Experimental drugs to
– Noises from the movement of gas and fluids boost the activity of natural lactase in the gut.
through the intestines. Lactose-Binding Agents: Early-stage research on
compounds that neutralize lactose directly in the
These symptoms vary depending on the amount of lactose digestive system.
consumed and the individual’s level of lactase deficiency.
These approaches offer hope for more effective and long-term
SLIDE 5: Here are some common treatment and management management—or even a potential cure—in the future.
strategies for lactose intolerance:
SLIDE 9: Symptoms:
People with lactose intolerance are unable to fully digest the Lactase’s job is to help us digest lactose, the natural sugar in
sugar (lactose) in milk. As a result, they have diarrhea, gas milk. Without it, our bodies struggle to break lactose down,
and bloating after eating or drinking dairy products. The leading to bloating, gas, and discomfort. But when lactase is
condition, which is also called lactose malabsorption, is doing its job, it splits lactose into simple sugars that we can
usually harmless, but its symptoms can be uncomfortable. easily absorb and turn into energy.
Too little of an enzyme produced in your small intestine
(lactase) is usually responsible for lactose intolerance. You
In short, enzymes like lactase keep our digestion on track and
can have low levels of lactase and still be able to digest milk
help our bodies get the fuel they need to function every day.
products. But if your levels are too low you become lactose
intolerant, leading to symptoms after you eat or drink dairy.
Bibliography:
SLIDE 10: Lactase pills (also known as lactase enzyme
supplements) are made through a process that involves
cultivating specific microorganisms that naturally produce the MedlinePlus. (n.d.) Lactose intolerance. [online]
lactase enzyme. Here's a simplified overview of how they're Available at:
made: https://medlineplus.gov/lactoseintolerance.html
[Accessed 15 Apr. 2025]
Mayo Clinic. (2023) Lactose intolerance. [online]
🔬 1. Microbial Fermentation Available at: https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-
conditions/lactose-intolerance [Accessed 15 Apr.
Fungi or yeast—commonly Aspergillus oryzae or 2025]
Kluyveromyces lactis—are grown in large Microsoft. (2024) Copilot for Microsoft 365. [online]
fermentation tanks. Available at:
These microbes are chosen because they produce https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/microsoft-365/copilo
high amounts of lactase. t [Accessed 15 Apr. 2025].
Biology Dictionary. (n.d.) Lactose intolerance. [online]
Available at: https://biologydictionary.net/lactose-
💧 2. Enzyme Extraction intolerance/ [Accessed 15 Apr. 2025].
National Institutes of Health (NIH). (n.d.) Lactose
After fermentation, the microbial culture is processed intolerance. [online] Available at:
to extract the lactase enzyme. https://www.niddk.nih.gov/health-information/digestiv
The liquid containing lactase is filtered and purified e-diseases/lactose-intolerance [Accessed 15 Apr.
to remove unwanted substances. 2025].
💊 3. Formulation
The purified lactase is dried into a powder (often
through spray drying or freeze drying).
It is then mixed with binders, fillers, and stabilizers to
ensure proper dosage and shelf life.
🏭 4. Tableting or Encapsulation
The lactase powder mixture is compressed into
tablets or filled into capsules.
Some may be made chewable or fast-dissolving,
depending on the brand and use case.
✅ 5. Testing and Packaging
The final products go through quality control tests for
enzyme activity, purity, and safety.
Approved batches are bottled, labeled, and packaged
for sale.
Source: ChatGPT
So, while the pills look simple, they’re the result of a biotech
process that uses microbes to do the heavy lifting in enzyme
production!
SLIDE 11: Enzymes, like lactase, are like tiny helpers in our
bodies that make life run smoothly. They speed up important
chemical reactions that would otherwise happen too slowly to
keep us healthy.
