According to KidsHealth.org, powdered milk contains the same amount of lactose as liquid milk. If you have been diagnosed with lactose intolerance, you should avoid using powdered milk or take a lactase supplement to avoid unpleasant symptoms. Lactose intolerance is different than a milk allergy or a milk protein intolerance and needs to be assessed and diagnosed by a medical professional. If you experience severe reactions after consuming powdered milk, call your doctor immediately.
Background
If you're lactose intolerant, your body lacks the lactase enzyme used to digest lactose. Lactose is a sugar commonly found in dairy products. According to the Mayo Clinic, most adults have a degree of intolerance towards lactose, but only those with significant symptoms are considered lactose intolerant. The condition can develop in early childhood or later in life and is typically lifelong with no cure. Lactose intolerance is manageable and does not cause any long-term effects on the body.
Powdered Milk
Powdered milk is dehydrated milk, so it contains the same chemical structure, proteins and sugars as regular milk. If you're lactose intolerant or allergic to milk, you need to treat powdered milk the same way you would regular milk.
Symptoms
If you are lactose intolerant and you ingest dairy, you will experience symptoms within 20 to 30 minutes, according to KidsHealth.org. Common symptoms include diarrhea, gas, bloating, abdominal cramps, nausea, floating stools and fowl-smelling stools. Symptoms will vary between each individual based on the severity of the lactase deficiency. If you're very sensitive to lactose, you can experience extreme symptoms by consuming very little milk.
Consideration
If you experience any other symptoms other than those listed above, you may have another condition, such as a milk allergy. Milk allergy symptoms include similar digestive symptoms as lactose intolerance, along with nasal congestion, shortness of breath, skin rashes and vomiting, according to the Center for Young Women's Health. You may also suffer from a milk protein intolerance. Only your doctor can provide you with a proper diagnosis.
Treatment
If you experience common lactose intolerance symptoms after consuming powdered milk, you can either avoid using all dairy products, take an enzyme supplement or buy dairy products that have the enzyme removed, according to the Mayo Clinic. You can purchase a lactase enzyme at any pharmacy under several different brand names. Take the supplement with the first bite of dairy to ease digestion. Dairy products are also manufactured with the lactose removed, which are safe and should not cause any common symptoms.
