How do lactase tablets work?

Lactase is an enzyme produced in the small intestine that plays a key role in the digestion of lactose, the sugar in milk and dairy products. The enzyme lactase breaks down lactose into glucose and galactose. These simple sugars can be easily digested by the body. When someone has lactose intolerance, the body does not produce enough lactase to digest the lactose. This can lead to symptoms such as bloating, abdominal pain, diarrhea and nausea. Taking lactase tablets adds the missing lactase to the body and reduces or completely avoids the symptoms.
The effect of the lactase tablets is only present as long as the enzyme is active in the digestive tract. This means that they do not provide a permanent solution to a lack of lactase production in the body, but only support during meals that contain lactose.