Lactase deficiency is a rare disease, the main symptoms of which are increased gas formation, insufficient weight gain of the child, foamy stools, chest abandonment, abdominal pain. Every woman understands that mother's milk is the perfect food for her baby. However, if your baby is diagnosed with the above diagnosis, there are only two ways: either using enzyme therapy while maintaining breastfeeding, or a lactose-free mixture, because the cause of the disease is the lack of enzymes in the baby’s intestines to break down milk sugar - lactose.
Distinguish between congenital and acquired lactase deficiency. In the second case, the cause is an inflammatory process or an intestinal infection that proceeds with complications. A partial decrease in the production of enzymes is called hypolactasia. In this case, the doctor recommends the use of adapted low-lactose mixtures. As they recover, the low-lactose mixture is replaced with the usual adapted one. If a relapse occurs, and again the production of enzymes in the intestine decreases sharply, then a lactose-free mixture is introduced. It is therapeutic and in no case should it be appointed by parents independently. Even in the case of lactase deficiency, the pediatrician prescribes a strictly individual nutritional scheme for a particular child, because lactose has an important role in the development of the baby's body.
What is the difference between a lactose-free mixture and a usual one?
Mother's milk is the standard that manufacturers of adapted mixtures are trying to approach. The vast majority of them are made on the basis of milk from farm animals - cows or goats. It reduces the content of casein, salts and proteins. Along with this, milk is enriched with vitamins, minerals and trace elements necessary for humans, that is, they are adapted. Lactose-free and low-lactose mixtures, in turn, should not contain cow's milk - it is completely replaced by soy. Minerals and vitamins are also added.
How is a lactose-free mixture introduced?
The main rule of the transition is its phasing, because a sharp decrease in lactose in the baby's daily diet is fraught with constipation. The pediatrician and parents must definitely control the presence of allergies, stool, weight gain and overall well-being of the baby.
Which mixture to choose? What does the Russian market offer us?
Undoubtedly, the choice of adapted mixtures is much wider than the range of lactose-free and low-lactose mixtures. However, the largest manufacturers did not disregard kids with such a problem and released their food options for children of different ages. The most famous mixtures - "NAS" and "Nutrilon" - are available in non-lactose and low-lactose versions, too. Also on the market there are such mixtures of other, less well-known manufacturers: "Mamex", "Nutrilak", "Friso". The NAN infant formula is produced by Nestle, and Nutrilon by the Dutch company Nutricia. You can buy all lactose-free mixtures in almost any pharmacy or supermarket, as well as in specialized children's stores.