Which condition is caused by an inability to properly digest lactose?

Lactose intolerance is a condition characterized by the body's inability to properly digest lactose, which is the sugar found in milk and dairy products. This occurs when the small intestine does not produce enough of the enzyme lactase, which is necessary for breaking down lactose into glucose and galactose for absorption. As a result, undigested lactose passes into the colon where it ferments, leading to gastrointestinal symptoms such as bloating, gas, diarrhea, and abdominal pain.

Understanding lactose malabsorption as the broader concept is important because it refers to the reduced ability to absorb lactose in the intestine, which is a prerequisite for developing lactose intolerance. However, it is lactose intolerance that specifically describes the symptomatic response to the malabsorption of lactose.

Conditions like diabetes and celiac disease are different altogether; diabetes relates to issues with insulin and blood sugar regulation, while celiac disease is an autoimmune reaction triggered by gluten, which is found in wheat, barley, and rye. Thus, the specific nature of the symptoms and the digestive mechanism involved clearly support that lactose intolerance is the correct answer for the inability to digest lactose.