Editing Lactose (section)

==Applications==
Its mild flavor and easy handling properties have led to its use as a carrier and stabiliser of aromas and pharmaceutical products.<ref name=Ull/> Lactose is not commonly added directly to food, because its low solubility can lead to a gritty mouthfeel.<ref>{{Cite journal |last1=Dominici |first1=Simona |last2=Marescotti |first2=Francesca |last3=Sanmartin |first3=Chiara |last4=Macaluso |first4=Monica |last5=Taglieri |first5=Isabella |last6=Venturi |first6=Francesca |last7=Zinnai |first7=Angela |last8=Facioni |first8=Maria Sole |date=2022-05-19 |title=Lactose: Characteristics, Food and Drug-Related Applications, and Its Possible Substitutions in Meeting the Needs of People with Lactose Intolerance |journal=Foods |language=en |volume=11 |issue=10 |pages=1486 |doi=10.3390/foods11101486 |doi-access=free |issn=2304-8158 |pmc=9141425 |pmid=35627056}}</ref> [[Infant formula]] is a notable exception, where lactose is added to match the composition of human milk.<ref>{{Cite journal |last1=Slupsky |first1=Carolyn M. |last2=He |first2=Xuan |last3=Hernell |first3=Olle |last4=Andersson |first4=Yvonne |last5=Rudolph |first5=Colin |last6=Lönnerdal |first6=Bo |last7=West |first7=Christina E. |date=2017-06-16 |title=Postprandial metabolic response of breast-fed infants and infants fed lactose-free vs regular infant formula: A randomized controlled trial |journal=Scientific Reports |language=en |volume=7 |issue=1 |pages=3640 |doi=10.1038/s41598-017-03975-4 |issn=2045-2322 |pmc=5473881 |pmid=28623320|bibcode=2017NatSR...7.3640S }}</ref> However, lactose-reduced formulas are increasing in popularity.<ref>{{Cite journal |last1=DiMaggio |first1=Dina M. |last2=Abersone |first2=Ilze |last3=Porto |first3=Anthony F. |date=2024 |title=Infant consumption of 100% lactose-based and reduced lactose infant formula in the United States: Review of NHANES data from 1999 to 2020 |url=https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/jpn3.12292 |journal=Journal of Pediatric Gastroenterology and Nutrition |language=en |volume=79 |issue=5 |pages=1017–1023 |doi=10.1002/jpn3.12292 |pmid=38934419 |issn=1536-4801|url-access=subscription }}</ref>

One of the undesirable properties of lactose utilization is its low solubility, which can result in crystallization, giving a gritty and sandy mouthfeel in the final product. Usually, in supersaturated solution, sugars tend to crystallize, also forming big agglomerates, depending on the process condition.

Lactose is not fermented by most [[yeast]] during brewing, which may be used to advantage.<ref name=Linko1981/> For example, lactose may be used to sweeten stout beer; the resulting beer is usually called a [[milk stout]] or a cream stout.

Yeast belonging to the genus ''[[Kluyveromyces]]'' have a unique industrial application, as they are capable of fermenting lactose for ethanol production. Surplus lactose from the whey by-product of dairy operations is a potential source of alternative energy.<ref>{{citation |last=Ling |first=Charles |title=Whey to Ethanol: A Biofuel Role for Dairy Cooperatives? |date=2008 |url=http://www.rd.usda.gov/files/RR214.pdf |publisher=United States Department of Agriculture Rural Development}}.</ref>

Another significant lactose use is in the pharmaceutical industry. Lactose is added to tablet and capsule drug products as an ingredient because of its physical and functional properties (examples are [[atorvastatin]], [[levocetirizine]] or [[thiamazole]] among many others).<ref name=Ull/><ref>{{Cite journal |last1=Zdrojewicz |first1=Z. |last2=Zyskowska |first2=K. |last3=Wasiuk |first3=S. |date=2018 |title=Lactose in drugs and lactose intolerance – realities and myths |url=https://pimr.pl/index.php/issues/2018-vol-14-no-3/lactose-in-drugs-and-lactose-intolerance-realities-and-myths |journal=Paediatrics and Family Medicine |volume=14 |issue=3 |pages=261–266 |doi=10.15557/PiMR.2018.0027|doi-access=free }}</ref> For similar reasons, it can be used to dilute illicit drugs such as cocaine or heroin.<ref>{{Cite journal |last1=Rinaldi |first1=R. |last2=Negro |first2=F. |last3=Minutillo |first3=A. |date=2020-02-20 |title=The health threat of new synthetic opioids as adulterants of classic drugs of abuse |url=http://www.clinicaterapeutica.it/2020/171/2/05_MINUTILLO.pdf |journal=La Clinica Terapeutica |volume=171 |issue=2 |pages=107–109 |doi=10.7417/CT.2020.2198 |issn=1972-6007 |pmid=32141480}}</ref>