Medical Term:
lactose
Pronunciation: lak′tōs
Definition: A reducing disaccharide present in mammalian milk and consisting of a galactosyl residue linked B1,4 to a glucopyranose; obtained from cow's milk and used in modified milk preparation, in food for infants and convalescents, and in pharmaceutical preparations; in large doses, acts as an osmotic diuretic and as a laxative. Human milk contains 6.7% lactose.
Synonym(s): milk sugar, saccharum lactis
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Examples: glitazone, GI cocktail, etc.
