Increasingly, at the next examination, the pediatrician is diagnosed with lactase deficiency. Lactase enzyme deficiency is widespread among children in the first years of life and is becoming enormous. Among the adult population, this ailment is extremely rare - only isolated cases have been recorded.
The value of lactase for the child's body
For children of the first year of life, the main food is breast milk or adapted infant formula. They necessarily contain milk sugar - lactose. It is necessary for the full development of the brain and almost half satisfies the infant's daily energy requirement.
Entering the intestines of a child, lactose undergoes cleavage. It is possible only in the presence of a special enzyme - lactase. The enzyme lactase breaks down lactose into two components - glucose and galactose. Glucose is responsible for the flow of energy, and galactose is important for the full development of the baby’s nervous system.
Lactase deficiency
If lactose does not change in the intestine due to the absence or lack of the lactase enzyme, its accumulation occurs with each feeding. Large volumes of lactose create a favorable environment for the reproduction of microorganisms. Their vital activity contributes to the appearance of frequent diarrhea, severe gas formation and pain in the intestines. The acidic environment of loose stool negatively affects the intestinal wall, causing damage.
In this case, it is most often recommended to take an analysis of feces on a Benedict test. It provides information on the percentage of carbohydrates, if it is elevated, the diagnosis of lactase deficiency is made.
Causes of lactase deficiency
Factors affecting the limitation or absence of lactase enzyme activity are combined in 2 groups: primary and secondary.
Primary lactase deficiency is extremely rare, it happens:
- congenital, caused by genetic failure;
- in premature babies due to insufficient maturity of the intestine at the time of birth.
Secondary lactase deficiency is a common diagnosis, it develops against the background of an existing disease of the gastrointestinal tract. First of all, treatment is aimed at eliminating the infection. As a rule, during recovery, the production of the lactase enzyme is normalized.
Symptoms of Lactase Deficiency in Newborns
The reason for contacting a doctor and immediately taking an analysis is the appearance of symptoms:
- frequent diarrhea in the child or, conversely, constipation;
- during feeding or immediately after it, the baby becomes moody;
- increased gas formation, bloating (infant colic);
- regurgitation in large quantities;
- insufficient weight gain;
- in feces there are undigested lumps of food and mucus with greens.
Treatment methods
With an established deficiency, lactase enzyme preparations are prescribed. They must be consumed at every meal to ensure timely lactose breakdown.
The enzyme lactase for newborns and older children is sold under the following names:
- "Lactase".
- "Lactase Baby."
- Lactazar
Instructions for use of these dietary supplements are similar: for infants, 1 capsule per 100 ml of milk mixture or 25 ml of breast milk. The contents of the capsule are dissolved in a bottle with the mixture and immediately offered to the baby. When breastfeeding, milk with an enzyme is first given, after a few minutes - breast.
These recommendations are general in nature, the pediatrician observing the child is involved in the selection of the individual dosage. The exact amount of lactase is prescribed depending on the results of the analysis, which gives information about the degree of enzyme deficiency.
Adults and seniors are also shown preparations containing the enzyme lactase. As a rule, dairy products are worse absorbed at this age - medications have a positive effect on this process. In addition, the enzyme is recommended after intestinal infections to normalize its microflora and restore the functions of the gastrointestinal tract.
The enzyme lactase is vital for the full development of the child’s body, when splitting milk carbohydrate, the necessary amount of energy comes in, the central nervous system develops normally. Lactase also provides powerful support for the digestive system to absorb dairy products in the elderly.