While most people can consume lactose-containing foods -- predominantly dairy -- without any trouble, some individuals experience gastrointestinal upset upon eating lactose. This is due to lactose intolerance, or the inability to digest the sugar in milk. If you're lactose intolerant, you can treat some of the discomfort with gas pills, but generally not all of it.
Milk Sugar
Lactose, commonly called milk sugar, is a mildly sweet-tasting carbohydrate in milk and other dairy products. Most people break lactose down into its constituent molecules -- called glucose and galactose -- using the enzyme lactase in the small intestine, explains Dr. Lauralee Sherwood in her book "Human Physiology." Once you've broken lactose down, you can absorb the component sugars and use them to produce energy or store them for later energy use.
Lactose Intolerance
Though most of the population -- particularly those of European descent -- can consume lactose without any trouble, some individuals are lactose intolerant. This results from insufficient lactase production, which results in lactose you consume passing undigested into your large intestine. Once the sugar arrives there, native bacteria break it down for energy, explain Drs. Reginald Garrett and Charles Grisham in their book "Biochemistry." This process generates large quantities of gas, which can lead to painful cramping. You can also experience diarrhea.
Gas Pills
Most gas pills are made up of the compound simethicone, which helps to break up gas bubbles into smaller bubbles that pass more easily through the intestine. This helps to relieve the painful bloating and cramping associated with gas-inducing food consumption, and can also help a bit if you have lactose intolerance. It won't do anything, however, for diarrhea and other associated symptoms, because it doesn't prevent the irritation that accompanies lactose consumption.
Alternatives
Instead of continuing to consume lactose-containing products if you're lactose intolerant and trying to handle the symptoms with gas pills, you can try a few more effective alternatives. Lactose-free dairy products prevent symptoms entirely, as they've had the lactose broken down already by added enzyme. This makes the milk slightly sweeter, but doesn't affect the nutritional quality. Additionally, there are lactase supplements available on the market that will allow you to digest lactose in your food for a short period of time.
References
- "Biochemistry"; Reginald Garrett, Ph.D. and Charles Grisham, Ph.D.; 2007
- "Human Physiology"; Lauralee Sherwood, Ph.D.; 2004
