Lactase deficiency, also referred to as lactose intolerance is a medical condition in which the person who has lactose intolerance symptoms cannot break down lactose or milk sugar that is typically found in milk products or in milk itself. Lactose intolerance isn’t a lethal condition, nevertheless, many lactose intolerance symptoms are absolutely definitely that it forces people who suffer from this to totally steer clear of eating dairy products.

The lack of lactase is what causes lactose intolerance. Lactase is an enzyme that the small intestine produces that helps in the digestion of lactose into two simpler kinds of sugar – galactose and glucose. The deficiency of lactase results in milk sugar to be improperly digested and absorbed into the blood stream.

There are around 30 to 50 million people in the United States who experience lactose intolerance. It was recently found that there are certain ethnic and racial groups who are very likely to being born with this condition. For instance, Lactose Intolerance strikes 90% of Asian Americans, 80% of American Indians, and 80% of African Americans.