Synthetic tech to solve lactose-intolerance

[SMS-Shenzhen 2022]

Lactose intolerance has prevailed in China for a long history. It is generally believed that more than half of the people in China are troubled by this problem. Some studies even believe that 100% of Asians have some degree of lactose intolerance. Therefore basically what is lactose intolerance?

Scientifically, lactose intolerance is also known as lactose indigestion or lactose malabsorption. Too little production of an enzyme (lactase) in the small intestine often leads to lactose intolerance, in which people with lactose intolerance cannot fully digest the sugar (lactose) in milk, so they eat or drink dairy products Diarrhea, gas, and bloating.

In plain language, lactose intolerance is the result of your body unable to break down lactose.

The condition isn’t harmful, but it can be uncomfortable and may be embarrassing. People who are lactose intolerant don’t have it so easy. The symptoms are no fun, yet not dangerous. Bloating and nausea are some common symptoms among the patients. More severely, people may suffer from diarrhea or even stomach convulsion. Most people can manage their symptoms by changing their diet and limiting the amount of lactose they consume. Some people do better by cutting lactose out of their diet altogether

There are four types of this disease: primary, secondary, developmental, and congenital and each of them are different. Primary lactase deficiency is limited to adults and refers to a decline in the amount of lactase that people age as they age, caused by genetics, and the lack of an allele that produces persistence of lactase. This is the most common type of lactose intolerance; Secondary lactase deficiency, also known as temporary lactase deficiency, is caused by damage to the small intestine from various causes. Common causes include gastroenteritis, diarrhea, chemotherapy, intestinal parasites, and other environmental factors; Developmental lactose deficiency can occur in premature infants and usually improves within a short period of time; Congenital lactose deficiency is a rare genetic disorder in which patients have little or no lactase. The incidence of this type is relatively high in Finland.

Current solutions for alleviating lactose intolerance have a certain effect. Commonly-accepted one is to limit the consumption of dairy products, avoid large intakes at one time, and there is no need to completely avoid the intake of dietary lactose. Apart from that, lactobacillus in active yogurt can help relieve symptoms of lactose intolerance because lactobacillus can help digest lactose in other dairy products. Though they are useful, they can only ease the symptoms but not strangle the root.

Though the disease isn’t that dangerous, it still needs our attention owing to its universal existence. Genuinely and sincerely, we hope that the lactose intolerant can live peacefully with diary products at the end of the day.

[TheVat]

So what do you want to discuss?

BTW, you know that lactose free milk has been widely available for decades, right?  Pretty much solved the problem back in the 70s.  

[Agent Smith]

There's another treatment for lactose intolerance: Lactase enzyme. This at least has the benefit of people being able to enjoy dairy products like ice cream. What would life be without ice cream?

Last I checked the the genetic variation involved occurs in the enhancer region of the LCT gene (lactase gene), affecting a TF (transcription factor) binding site. The upshot - poor binding of TF proteins resulting in decreased expression of the LCT gene and lower levels of lactase enzyme in the small intestine.