Lactose is a natural sugar found in the milk of mammals such as cows, goats, and humans. In this blog, we explain exactly what lactose is and why Pure Goat has chosen to use lactose as the sole carbohydrate source in our products.
What is Lactose?
Lactose is a sugar that naturally occurs in milk and dairy products. It is a disaccharide, meaning it consists of two smaller sugar molecules: glucose and galactose. Lactose is present in the milk of all mammals, including cows, goats, sheep, and humans. Although the source of the milk may vary, the composition of lactose remains the same.
European Legislation
To ensure that infants and young children receive sufficient carbohydrates, European legislation has established a minimum level of lactose in follow-on formulas. Pure Goat has chosen to use lactose as the only carbohydrate source. We consider lactose, also known as milk sugar, to be a valuable and pure ingredient that aligns with our philosophy. We do not use maltodextrin, which often comes from corn and is a cheaper alternative to lactose.
Digestion of Lactose
Lactose is broken down by an enzyme called lactase, which is primarily produced in the small intestine. Here, lactose is split into its two component molecules. These sugars serve as a source of energy but can also be used as building blocks for other molecules in the body.
The Chemical Identity of Lactose
The image above shows the lactose molecule (consisting of the two sugars) and the digestion process. An important point to understand is that lactose, regardless of its source, is chemically identical. Whether it comes from cow’s milk, goat’s milk, sheep’s milk, or human milk, the molecular structure of lactose remains the same. This means the body does not distinguish between lactose from different milk sources; the digestion and metabolism of lactose occur in the same way, regardless of the source.
Cow’s Milk Protein Allergy
Lactose and its two sugar components contain no proteins and therefore no cow’s milk protein. Children with a cow’s milk protein allergy react to the proteins in cow’s milk, such as casein and whey proteins, but not to lactose. Lactose itself is a sugar and does not cause allergic reactions in these children.*
*Please note: Children with a diagnosed cow’s milk protein allergy may also react to proteins in goat’s milk. Therefore, goat’s milk is not suitable.
