Lactose Intolerance: Clinical Overview, Diagnostic Evaluation, and Evidence-Based Management—Updated for Primary Care and Gastroenterology Practice
Definition and Pathophysiology Lactose intolerance (LI) is a clinical syndrome characterized by the development of digestive symptoms following ingestion of lactose—the primary carbohydrate in mammalian milk. It results from lactose malabsorption (LM), defined as inadequate hydrolysis of lactose into glucose and galactose due to deficient or absent activity of brush-border enzyme lactase-phlorizin hydrolase (LCT) in…
