Nearly 30 million Americans have some degree of lactose intolerance, the inability to efficiently digest milk sugar, according to the National Center for Biotechnology Information. Since 1980, several manufacturers have developed reduced lactose and lactose-free dairy products that, at least for some individuals, provide a healthy alternative to regular milk.
Lactose-free Milk
Manufacturers make lactose-free milk from regular cow's milk. To make Lactaid lactose-free milk, for example, the manufacturer adds lactase enzyme to break down the lactose into two simple sugars, glucose and galactose. The nutritional values of calcium, protein, potassium, riboflavin, and vitamins A, D and B-12 remain the same as in regular milk. Another manufacturer, Real Goodness, uses an ultrafiltration process to remove the lactose, reducing the sugar content of the milk by 42 percent, according to the company's website.
Lactose Intolerance
Lactose-intolerant individuals produce insufficient amounts of lactase, so they experience mild to severe digestive symptoms such as abdominal pain, gas, diarrhea and cramping after consuming milk products. Most can tolerate small amounts of milk, but reactions vary among individuals. Those with lower levels of sensitivity may be able to digest reduced-lactose milk, which has about 30 percent of the amount of lactose in regular milk, but lactose-free milk can be a healthy choice for anyone with lactose intolerance.
Milk Allergy
Milk allergy, one of the most common food allergies in children, causes mild to severe wheezing, vomiting, digestive problems and hives within a few minutes to a few hours after consuming milk protein. In some cases, the reaction may be life-threatening. Treatment includes avoiding all forms of milk from any source -- cows, sheep, goats or buffalo -- as well as products containing milk such as bread, baked goods and breaded foods. Lactose-free milk contains milk proteins; therefore, a person with a milk allergy should not consume it.
Infant Development
Lactose-free milk protein-based infant formulas appear to have no negative effects on growth and development, according to John B. Lasekan, Ph.D., lead researcher in a study published in the April 2011 issue of "Clinical Pediatrics." The height, weight and head circumferences of the control and test groups were normal, suggesting that the absence of lactose has no effect on infants' growth and development.
References
- Jackson Siegelbaum Gastroenterology: Lactose Free, Low Lactose Diets
- PubMed Health: Lactose Intolerance
- "Clinical Pediatrics"; Lactose-Free Milk Protein-Based Infant Formula: Impact on Growth and Gastrointestinal Tolerance in Infants; John B. Lasekan, Ph.D., et al.; April 2011
- MayoClinic.com: Milk Allergy
- Real Goodness: Lactose Free Technology
- Lactaid: FAQs
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