Devigest and Lactose Intolerance
Lactose and Lactase
There are many forms of sugar, including the disaccharide lactose, made up of the two simple sugars glucose and galactose. Lactose is naturally found in milk and most dairy products, as a result its name literally means “milk sugar.” For our body to use the nutrients found in lactose, an enzyme, called lactase, must split it into the two sugars it is made of.
Enzymes, like those found in Devigest, are proteins that act as a catalyst in the body, to speed up a reaction that normally happens much slower. Without enzymes, the metabolic processes of our body would simply not be possible in many cases. The enzyme lactase is produced by the cells that line the small intestines, it then breaks down the disaccharide lactose into glucose and galactose, both of which are then absorbed into the blood.
Unfortunately, in many cases, the body does not make enough lactase, or does not make any at all, so that the sugar lactose passes undigested into the colon, where bacteria then break it down, creating a lot of gas and causing pain. When the body does not make enough of the enzyme lactase, this is what we call “lactose intolerance,” as we cannot tolerate eating lactose without discomfort.
The small intestines are most effective at making lactase from birth until a few years later, to allow infants to digest milk from the mother. Because babies can digest milk from the mother, they can also consume other types of milk as well, like cow’s milk. As many people get older, the body stops making lactase, or makes less of it. If the person continues to drink milk or eat milk products after this occurs, the lactose cannot be digested.
Symptoms of lactose intolerance can include pain or bloating in the abdomen, excess gas, and in more severe cases, nausea or diarrhea after consuming lactose-containing products. Babies are normally born with the ability to make lactase, but it is common for older children and adults to be lactose intolerant. In fact, as many as 75% of the world's population suffers from lactose intolerance . While the condition is not dangerous, it can be very uncomfortable and can also interfere with the pleasures of consuming dairy products. In addition to adults being more likely to have lactose intolerance, there are differences among ethnic groups in the tendency to stop making lactase [2,3].
Lactose in the Diet
People with lactose intolerance have different types of reactions to lactose , and the more severe your reaction to lactose, the more you need help in getting your digestion back into balance with the right enzymes. If you have lactose intolerance, you may try to manage the condition by avoiding milk or milk products, like cheese or yogurt. However, it can be extremely difficult to avoid milk completely, as it is often used as an additive for many processed foods, such as bread and baked goods, salad dressings, candy, and even some processed meats, plus many more .
Besides the difficulty of avoiding all milk in processed foods, when we avoid milk, we not only skip the lactose in the milk, but all the other nutrients in dairy as well, so that cutting out milk can potentially have other possible health effects . The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends that children consume dairy products to maintain good health, and cutting out dairy products because of lactose intolerance goes against these recommendations . Therefore, taking an enzyme supplement like Devigest that contains lactase allows you to continue eating dairy products without the pain and discomfort that usually accompanies lactose ingestion.
Devigest contains 580mg of lactase in two capsules, the recommended dosage. For the best results, Devigest should be taken immediately prior to eating or with food, so that the enzyme is present with the lactose and can break down any lactose in the food. Because lactase will safely hydrolize lactose into glucose and galactose, Devigest will help to maintain the natural process of the body and treat lactose intolerance [6,7].
Why Choose Devigest?
Devigest is more powerful and concentrated than other digestive enzyme supplements on the market. Devigest was also specifically formulated to be more effective and provide even greater relief for those suffering from all types of negative reactions to milk and dairy products.
Lactose intolerance is very different to a milk allergy. However, with Devigest the treatment is the same. This is because Devigest contains a highly potent peptidase with 500 units of DPP-IV activity per serving that effectively breaks down casein, the protein that triggers the allergic reaction . While many digestive enzyme supplements utilize either peptidase or lactase, Devigest is the only supplement to combine highly potent forms of both. Since Devigest contains such a complete and broad-spectrum formula, it makes other digestive enzyme supplements obsolete.
- Roy PK, Choudhary A, Othman M, Shojamanesh H. Lactose Intolerance. http://emedicine.medscape.com/article/187249-overview. Updated Aug 12, 2008.
- Jellema P, Schellevis FG, van der Windt DA, Kneepkens CM, van der Horst HE. Lactose malabsorption and intolerance: a systematic review on the diagnostic value of gastrointestinal symptoms and self-reported milk intolerance. QJM. 2010;103(8):555-572.
- Campbell AK, Waud JP, Matthews SB. The molecular basis of lactose intolerance. Sci Prog. 2009;92(Pt 3-4):241-287.
- Shaukat A, Levitt MD, Taylor BC et al. Systematic review: effective management strategies for lactose intolerance. Ann Intern Med. 2010;152(12):797-803.
- Perino A, Cabras S, Obinu D, Cavalli Sforza L. Lactose intolerance: a non-allergic disorder often managed by allergologists. Eur Ann Allergy Clin Immunol. 2009;41(1):3-16.
- Heyman MB. Lactose intolerance in infants, children, and adolescents. Pediatrics. 2006;118(3):1279-1286.
- Roxas M. The role of enzyme supplementation in digestive disorders. Altern Med Rev. 2008;13(4):307-314.
- Detel D, Persić M, Varljen J. Serum and intestinal dipeptidyl peptidase IV (DPP IV/CD26) activity in children with celiac disease. J Pediatr Gastroenterol Nutr. 2007;45(1):65-70.