Many of us suffer lactose intolerance, resulting from low levels of lactase enzyme secreted to the intestinal lumen. Of course, by using lactose free milk products, this problem is solved.

How many of us know that all of us have lactose as part of our cell membranes. Our cell membranes are composed of lipids like cholesterol, phospholipids and sphingolipids. Most of the sphingolipids contain sugar chains and we call these lipids as glycolipids or those who are really enthusiast cell membrane scientists call them glycosphingolipids. And great majority of our glycolipids are build from lipid part called ceramide, a hydrophobic lipid part embedded in the lipid bilayer, and a lactose sugar structure covalently linked to the ceramide. This molecule is called lactosylceramide. However, in many cases other sugar chains are linked to lactose, thus forming more complex  structures. Altogether glycolipids form a hydrophilic glycocalyx around our cells serving as a protective hydrophilic layer. But many other functions have been linked to glycolipids. Many toxins, for instance, recognise glycolipids. And let’s not forget bacteria and viruses.

But, is there a link between presence of lactose in mother’s milk and in cell membranes?