Lactose Intolerance Herbal Remedy

A composition for use in the therapy of lactose intolerance or conditions arising from lactase deficiency.
 
The subject matter of the invention is an agent for use in administering to subjects suffering from lactose intolerance, which contains the enzyme lactase (syn. tilactase, tilactasum, beta-galactosidase) in combination with microorganisms. In the context of this patent application, the term lactose intolerance is used to mean not only the medically defined lactose intolerance and lactose metabolism disorder (lactose malabsorption, lactose maldigestion), but any form of health impairments and symptoms that occur as a result of the intake of lactose or lactose-containing foodstuffs, or due to the release of lactose in the digestive tract of humans or animals from other substances, such as pharmaceutical compositions.
 
Background of the invention:
 
Lactose is a disaccharide and is an important energy-supplying nutritional component. It occurs as a component primarily in milk and dairy products, but is also used by the food industry as a sweetener, bulking agent and consistency improver, e.g. in sweets, processed meats, bakery products and ready meals. Pharmaceutical compositions also often contain lactose. In the body, lactose is cleaved into the utilizable nutrients glucose and galactose in the small intestine by the endogenous enzyme lactase. For babies, the lactose contained in breast milk is a very important nutrient.
 
Lactose intolerance is usually the result of lactase deficiency. If insufficient amounts of the enzyme lactase are available in the body (lactase deficiency), lactose passes in uncleaved form into the lower parts of the intestines (large intestine), where it is fermented by intestinal bacteria, causing, for example, gas to be produced and/or an increased inflow of water into the large intestine. This can lead to complaints such as stomach-ache, flatulence, bloating or diarrhea, after the consumption of dairy products. This is referred to as lactose intolerance (milk sugar intolerance). Due to the similarity of the complaints, lactose intolerance is often confused with irritable bowel syndrome (irritable colon, spastic colon).