People with lactose intolerance can eat dairy products without experiencing significant symptoms

People with lactose intolerance can eat dairy products without experiencing significant symptoms

Dairy products are recognised as an important part of a healthy diet as they are a source of several nutrients.

Dairy products are particularly important for providing calcium, for which it is difficult to achieve the recommended daily intake from a dairy-free diet.

It is therefore important that dairy products are part of everyone’s diet, including people with lactose maldigestion or intolerance. People with lactose intolerance or lactose maldigestion can generally tolerate a single intake of up to 12 g of lactose (equivalent to about one glass of milk), particularly when consumed as part of a meal, with no or minor symptoms.

“The living bacteria in yogurt allow people suffering from lactose maldigestion/intolerance to gain the nutritional benefits of dairy products.” – Professor Naima Amrani

There is some evidence that a daily intake of 24 g of lactose can be tolerated if it is distributed throughout the day and consumed with other foods.

References:

• Suchy FJ, Brannon PM, Carpenter TO, et al. NIH Consensus Development Conference Statement: lactose intolerance and health. NIH Consens State Sci Statements 2010;27:1–27.
• EFSA Panel on Dietetic Products, Nutrition and Allergies (NDA). Scientific Opinion on lactose thresholds in lactose intolerance and galactosaemia. ESFA Journal 2010a;8:1777.
• Lukito W, Malik SG, Surono IS, et al. From ‘lactose intolerance’ to ‘lactose nutrition’. Asia Pac J Clin Nutr 2015;24(Suppl 1):S1–8.
• Casellas F, Aparici A, Casaus M, et al. Subjective perception of lactose intolerance does not always indicate lactose malabsorption. Clin Gastroenterol Hepatol 2010;8:581–6.
• Wilt TJ, Shaukat A, Shamliyan T, et al. Lactose intolerance and health. Evid Rep Technol Assess (Full Rep) 2010;(192):1–410.