Editing Lactose intolerance (section)

== Terminology ==
''Lactose intolerance'' primarily refers to a syndrome with one or more symptoms upon the consumption of food substances containing [[Lactose|lactose sugar]]. Individuals may be lactose intolerant to varying degrees, depending on the severity of these symptoms.

''Hypolactasia'' is the term specifically for the [[small intestine]] producing little or no [[lactase enzyme]].<ref>{{cite journal | vauthors = Lember M | title = Hypolactasia: a common enzymes deficiency leading to lactose malabsorption and intolerance | journal = Polskie Archiwum Medycyny Wewnetrznej | volume = 122 | pages = 60–4 | year = 2012 | issue = Suppl 1 | pmid = 23222197 | doi=10.20452/pamw.1519}}</ref> If a person with hypolactasia consumes lactose sugar, it results in ''lactose malabsorption''.<ref name="Heyman2006" /> The digestive system is unable to process the lactose sugar, and the unprocessed sugars in the gut produce the symptoms of ''lactose intolerance''.

Lactose intolerance is not an [[Food allergy|allergy]], because it is not an immune response, but rather a sensitivity to dairy caused by a deficiency of lactase enzyme. [[Milk allergy]], occurring in about 2% of the population, is a separate condition, with distinct symptoms that occur when the presence of milk proteins trigger an immune reaction.<ref name="Bahna2002">{{cite journal | vauthors = Bahna SL | title = Cow's milk allergy versus cow milk intolerance | journal = Annals of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology | volume = 89 | issue = 6 Suppl 1 | pages = 56–60 | date = December 2002 | pmid = 12487206 | doi = 10.1016/S1081-1206(10)62124-2 | type = Review. Comparative Study. }}</ref>