A substitute for lactose

Lactose is the predominant sugar of milk. It is a specific nutrient for infancy, supplying about 40 percent of a baby’s energy needs. It also facilitates calcium and iron absorption.

While the benefits of lactose are well-documented, it also presents disadvantages for children who simply cannot tolerate large doses of it. Studies have shown that up to 50 percent of Filipinos are lactose-intolerant.

In cases of lactose intolerance, the lactase enzyme is either absent or reduced, leaving the child unable to properly break down the lactose and digest it. The undigested lactose then remains in the intestine, causing symptoms such as excess gas, bloating, abdominal pain and diarrhea. These discomforts may lead to less milk intake, thus, compromising a child’s nutrition.

Mead Johnson’s Enfa lactofree range ensures lactose-intolerant children will receive most of the advantages of milk without its debilitating consequences.

Instead of lactose, the Enfa Lactofree line contains glucose polymers for easier digestion. Glucose polymers enhance the absorption of minerals at a rate comparable to lactose. Unlike lactose which can only be metabolized by the enzyme lactase, glucose polymers can be metabolized by five different enzymes. They also produce glucose, from which the body then produces the lactose necessary for brain development.