Lactose is the milk sugar that is naturally present in milk. This disaccharide is composed of the two monosaccharides glucose (grape sugar) and galactose.
Lactase is the enzyme responsible for breaking down the sugar lactose contained in dairy products.
It occurs when the body does not produce enough lactase, or none at all, to digest the lactose contained in dairy products. This can be genetic or acquired over the course of a lifetime.
Lactase is the enzyme responsible for breaking down lactose. If it is present in insufficient quantities or not at all in the small intestine, the lactose is not broken down and passes into the large intestine, which is connected to the small intestine.
Lactose intolerance is caused by a deficiency or complete absence of the body’s own lactase.
Typical symptoms are abdominal pain, bloating, a feeling of fullness, diarrhea and dizziness after eating foods containing lactose.
The enzyme lactase contained in Lactrase® breaks down lactose into its easily digestible components glucose and galactose.
The lactase enzyme contained in Lactrase® is produced using the mold Aspergillus oryzae and is therefore not of animal origin.
Lactrase® should be taken immediately before or with food containing lactose. After ingestion, the capsule or tablet dissolves in the stomach within a few minutes, releasing the lactase it contains.
The activity of the lactase contained in Lactrase® is expressed in FCC units (Food Chemical Codex).
There are three different forms of lactose intolerance: primary lactose intolerance, secondary lactose intolerance and congenital lactose intolerance.
A lactose tolerance test can determine whether a person has a lactase deficiency. A genetic test can determine whether a person will develop a primary lactase deficiency during their lifetime.
Infants can also be affected by lactose intolerance, but this is relatively rare. It either occurs temporarily due to another underlying condition or it is a congenital impairment of lactase production. It is important to seek medical advice if you experience symptoms of lactose intolerance.
The following table shows the lactose content of common dairy products. You should test for yourself which amount of Lactrase® is sufficient for you. We recommend starting with two capsules or mini-tablets of Lactrase® 3300 or one capsule or mini-tablet of Lactrase® 6000 per 5 g of lactose in the meal.
Food | Serving size | Ø Lactose per serving size | Recommended FCC units |
---|---|---|---|
Cow milk | 200 ml | 9,8 g | 6.000 |
Buttermilk | 500 g | 18,8 g | 11.500 |
Whey, whey drinks | 200 ml | 7,2 g | 4.500 |
Condensed milk | 15 g | 1,4 g | 1.000 |
Cream, cream (sweet, sour) | 50 g | 1,6 g | 1.000 |
Creme fraiche | 50 g | 1,4 g | 1.000 |
Yogurt | 150 g | 7,0 g | 4.500 |
Low-fat curd cheese | 200 g | 8,2 g | 5.000 |
Cottage cheese | 50 g | 1,3 g | 1.000 |
Kefir | 200 g | 9,5 g | 6.000 |
Ice cream (with milk) | 75 g (1 scoop) | 4,5 g | 3.000 |
Cream cheese | 50 g | 0,9 g | 500 |
Processed cheese | 50 g | 2,3 g | 1.500 |
Butter | 25 g | 0,1 g | 50 |