Lactose Intolerance Flashcards

Flashcards covering vocabulary and key concepts related to lactose intolerance.

Lactose Intolerance

A condition characterized by the inability to digest lactose, a sugar found in milk and dairy products, due to a deficiency of the enzyme lactase.

Pharmacological Reactions

Adverse reactions to foods or food additives resulting from naturally derived or added chemicals producing drug-like effects on the host.

Vasoactive Amines

Naturally occurring substances in foods, such as histamine, that can cause pharmacological intolerances.

Salicylates

Substances chemically similar to aspirin, found in a variety of plant foods, that can cause pharmacological intolerances.

Lactase

The enzyme that helps digest lactose, breaking it down into glucose and galactose.

Lactose

The naturally occurring sugar in milk and milk-containing products; a disaccharide digested into glucose and galactose.

Glucose and Galactose

The monosaccharides that lactose is broken down into during digestion.

Hydrogen Breath Test

A diagnostic test for lactose intolerance that measures the amount of hydrogen in a person's breath after consuming lactose.

Lactose Tolerance Blood Test

A diagnostic test for lactose intolerance where blood glucose levels are measured after consuming a liquid containing high levels of lactose.

Hereditary Lactose Intolerance

A rare form of lactose intolerance where no lactase enzyme is produced by the body, requiring complete removal of lactose from the diet.

Primary Lactose Intolerance

A common type of lactose intolerance where the amount of lactase produced by the body reduces after birth, more common in certain races.

Secondary Lactose Intolerance

Lactose intolerance caused by damage to the small bowel due to inflammation, often temporary and resolves as the gut heals.

Probiotics

Beneficial bacteria that may help break down lactose and reduce symptoms of lactose intolerance.

Hidden Lactose

Lactose present in unexpected food items or medications, often listed under different names like whey, curds, or milk solids.

Calcium

An essential mineral that may need to be supplemented in lactose-intolerant individuals who avoid dairy products.