Most Lactose-Intolerant Individuals Can Tolerate Some Dairy Consumption
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Among the conclusions of a recent National Institutes of Health Consensus Development Conference on lactose intolerance and health is the observation that in most cases, individuals with real or perceived lactose intolerance do not need to eliminate dairy consumption completely.
As defined in the draft conference consensus and state-of-the-science statement, lactose intolerance is a syndrome of diarrhea, abdominal pain, flatulence, and/or bloating that occurs after ingestion of lactose, a sugar found in milk and other dairy products. The symptoms are produced by lactose malabsorption—caused by a deficiency in the enzyme lactase—and the resulting bacterial fermentation of undigested lactose in the colon.
The available evidence suggests that adults and adolescents who have been diagnosed with lactose malabsorption can ingest at least 12 grams of lactose (the equivalent of 1 cup of milk) at one time with no or minor symptoms, particularly if it is ingested with other foods. The effectiveness of interventions such as reduced-lactose dairy products and probiotics is unclear because of significant limitations in existing studies.
Panelists who participated in the conference agreed that many people mistakenly ascribe symptoms of a variety of intestinal disorders to lactose intolerance. These individuals may be avoiding dairy products needlessly.
The complete draft statement is available at http://consensus.nih.gov/2010/lactosestatement.htm.