Answering Your Questions About Lactase Deficiency: A Comprehensive Review скачать в хорошем качестве

Answering Your Questions About Lactase Deficiency: A Comprehensive Review

https://usmleqa.com/?p=27335 Question: What is lactase deficiency? Answer: Lactase deficiency is a condition where there is an insufficient amount of lactase enzyme resulting in dietary lactose intolerance.Question: What does lactase do in the body? Answer: Lactase functions on the intestinal brush border to break down lactose in milk and milk products into glucose and galactose.Question: What are the primary causes of lactase deficiency? Answer: The primary causes of lactase deficiency are an age-dependent decline after childhood (absence of lactase-persistent allele), and it is common in people of Asian, African, or Native American descent.Question: Are there any secondary causes of lactase deficiency? Answer: Secondary causes of lactase deficiency include loss of the intestinal brush border due to gastroenteritis (e.g. rotavirus) or autoimmune disease.Question: Is congenital lactase deficiency a common condition? Answer: Congenital lactase deficiency is a rare condition, caused by a defective gene.Question: What tests can be done to diagnose lactase deficiency? Answer: Tests that can diagnose lactase deficiency include the lactose hydrogen breath test and an intestinal biopsy.Question: What are the symptoms of lactase deficiency? Answer: Symptoms of lactase deficiency include bloating, cramps, flatulence (due to gas produced by colonic bacteria fermenting undigested lactose), and osmotic diarrhea (from undigested lactose).Question: How is lactase deficiency treated? Answer: Lactase deficiency is treated by avoiding dairy products or adding lactase pills to the diet, and switching to lactose-free milk. Question: Can lactase deficiency be prevented? Answer: No, lactase deficiency cannot be prevented but its symptoms can be managed by avoiding dairy products or adding lactase supplements to the diet, and switching to lactose-free milk.Question: Is lactase deficiency only found in certain ethnic groups? Answer: Lactase deficiency is more common in people of Asian, African, or Native American descent, but it can occur in people of any ethnicity.Question: Does lactase deficiency only occur in older people? Answer: Lactase deficiency can occur in people of any age, but it is primarily caused by an age-dependent decline after childhood in the absence of a lactase-persistent allele.Question: Does lactase deficiency only occur due to genetics? Answer: Congenital lactase deficiency is caused by a defective gene, but lactase deficiency can also be caused by secondary factors such as loss of the intestinal brush border due to gastroenteritis or autoimmune disease.Question: What is the lactose hydrogen breath test used for? Answer: The lactose hydrogen breath test is used to diagnose lactase deficiency by measuring the hydrogen content in a person's breath after they have consumed lactose.Question: What are the findings of lactase deficiency? Answer: The findings of lactase deficiency include bloating, cramps, flatulence (due to gas produced by colonic bacteria fermenting undigested lactose), and osmotic diarrhea (from undigested lactose). Question: Can lactase deficiency be cured? Answer: No, lactase deficiency cannot be cured, but its symptoms can be managed by avoiding dairy products or adding lactase supplements to the diet, and switching to lactose-free milk.Question: How does lactase deficiency affect the body? Answer: Lactase deficiency affects the body by causing the undigested lactose in the diet to be fermented by colonic bacteria, leading to symptoms such as bloating, cramps, flatulence, and osmotic diarrhea.Question: Can lactase deficiency lead to other health problems? Answer: Yes, untreated lactase deficiency can lead to malnutrition and dehydration due to the diarrhea and other symptoms.Question: Is lactase supplementation safe? Answer: Yes, lactase supplementation is generally safe and well-tolerated. However, it is recommended to speak to a healthcare professional before starting any new supplements.Question: What is the difference between lactose itab