What is Lactose Intolerance?

Milk contains a natural sugar called lactose. People who have lactose intolerance don't produce enough lactase (an enzyme) in their digestive tract to digest large amounts of lactose at a time. When quantities of lactose exceed their ability to digest it, the result can be symptoms like gas, bloating and cramps. Lactose intolerance is not a milk allergy. In fact, most individuals with lactose intolerance can still enjoy milk products. After all, humans lack the enzyme needed to digest complex sugars in beans and we can still eat them.

We hear so much about lactose intolerance that people have a tendency to assume their digestive problems are due to lactose intolerance. Symptoms that many people attribute to a difficulty in digesting milk products often turn out to be caused by something else, for example celiac disease or other digestive health problems. Therefore, a proper medical diagnosis is essential since other gastro-intestinal conditions can cause similar symptoms.

Moreover, according to the most recent guidelines from the American Academy of Pediatrics, the elimination of milk products to treat lactose intolerance should only be used as a last resort measure.¹

Did you know…

• Research shows that many people clinically diagnosed as lactose intolerant report having no problems digesting one cup of milk (250 mL) with a meal or 2 cups (500 mL) when served throughout the day.^2-5
• The tendency towards lactose tolerance or intolerance is inherited.
• Many people can build a normal tolerance to lactose by eating milk products a little at a time.
• Temporary lactose intolerance can be a side effect of things like stomach flu, medication and food poisoning. When the condition passes or the medication is terminated, the intolerance goes away.
• The ability to digest lactose often increases during pregnancy.

Note on label reading

Lactose can be found in prepared foods or in some medications. Milk powder, milk solids, whey and lactoserum on an ingredient list, signal the presence of lactose. However the amount of lactose found in processed foods is usually not large enough to cause a problem. If you are concerned about the lactose content of a medication, talk to your pharmacist.