What is lactose monohydrate?

Lactose monohydrate is a white, crystalline powder that is commonly used as a filler or bulking agent in pharmaceutical tablets and as a sweetener in food manufacturing. It is a disaccharide sugar composed of glucose and galactose, and has a molecular formula of C12H22O11·H2O. The monohydrate form of lactose has a water molecule attached to it, which can improve its flow properties and compressibility for use in tablet formulations. However, lactose monohydrate can cause gastrointestinal discomfort in individuals who have lactose intolerance, as they lack the enzyme required to break down lactose into its constituent sugars.