Lactase Baby - lactose intolerance (congenital or acquired reduction in the activity of the enzyme lactase) can be compensated by means of biologically active food supplements. But children, including up to a year, especially newborns (up to a month), this dietary supplement should be used only on prescription.
What is lactose intolerance
Lactase - an enzyme membrane digestion that breaks down milk sugar - lactose. Lactose is a carbohydrate, is always contained in the milk, which is composed of two simple sugars (monosaccharides) - glucose and galactose.
Cleavage of lactose to monosaccharides occurs near the wall of the small intestine by the enzyme lactase into glucose
Glucose: The energy source
and galactose. Lactase is produced in the surface layers of the intestinal wall, which makes it more vulnerable enzyme digestion of all enzymes.
Lactose intolerance (NL) may be hidden, but can occur with severe symptoms. Under lactose intolerance (NL) usually refers to the inability of clinically enzymatic systems of the intestine to break down lactose. That is a symptom of lactose intolerance lactase deficiency - lowering activity of lactase in the intestine.
NL is very common, but this is not always regarded as a disease that requires treatment. Adults are often lactose intolerant and do not even know about it, just to avoid eating dairy products. But for children under one year, for which dairy foods is vital, NL can be a serious problem.
Reduced activity of lactase may be congenital or hereditary (family) - in this case we speak of primary lactase deficiency. Normally, lactase begins to form in the intestines of the fetus in the third month of fetal development, the second trimester of pregnancy significantly increased its activity and becomes the maximum at the time of birth. This gradual increase in the activity of lactase explains why IL symptoms present in all premature infants.
In the transition to the adult type of food and reducing the consumption of dairy products in the normal amount of lactase is reduced, but also increases the formation of other enzymes that contribute to digestion of carbohydrates - sucrase and maltase. Most often, the process of reducing production of lactase can be extended to 3-5 years, but sometimes this process continues in the future. That is why many older children and adults can not tolerate dairy products.
Interestingly, the rate of decline in the secretion of lactase largely depend on nationality. The highest percentage of LN found in Asia and Africa, which have not traditionally bred dairy cattle. In some countries in the region LN reaches 100%. In our country, this percentage is about 15.
There is also a secondary lactase deficiency - reduced lactase activity associated with damage to the intestinal cells that produce it (enterocytes), acute or chronic disease - an intestinal infection, intolerance to cow's milk protein, chronic enterocolitis, congenital disorders of the structure and functioning of the intestines, and so on.
Symptoms of lactose intolerance
NL associated with primary lactase deficiency manifests itself as follows:
- the advent of the child in the neonatal period foamy liquid stool sour odor frequency of more than 10 times a day; maybe vice versa - NL manifested as chronic constipation;
- anxiety baby a few minutes after applying to Goody and after feeding;
- bloating - baby cries and Sucitu legs - a sign of intestinal colic;
- underweight and physical development - the primary lactase deficiency symptoms increase with the increase in milk consumption; in the first weeks of life IO may not manifest itself, but gradually appears flatulence, later - abdominal pain
Abdominal pain: Types and Symptoms
And only then - loose stools.
More often develops in children NL associated with secondary lactase deficiency. At the same time the child comes first, and the green slime, and then lumps of undigested food.
What if the child found lactose intolerance
If you suspect that NL should consult a doctor. A child under one year of lactase deficiency can be detected by determining the amount of undigested carbohydrates in the feces. This analysis is done quickly and allows you to understand whether there is any violation of digestion and absorption of carbohydrates. And as the children of the first months of life receive only breast milk or infant formula
Dairy mixture - selection of useful power
Containing lactose, this analysis is sufficient for diagnosis.
For the treatment of HL child or transferred to lactose-free milk mixtures, or introduce additional lactase, appointing a biologically active food supplements, such as lactase Baby.
Galina Romanenko