Lactose-free milk is one way to include dairy products in your diet when you are lactose intolerant. The milk is processed so that the lactose, a natural sugar found in dairy, is broken into its component parts, thereby making it digestible. The further processing of the milk may lead you to wonder if vitamins are lost during its manufacture.
Why Use Lactose-Free Milk
Lactose intolerance means that you don't naturally produce enough lactase enzyme to digest most dairy products. However, you can take the enzyme orally, either in pill or drop form. In addition, you can buy products that have added lactase to the product. These products are digestible without additional pills or drops and can make it easier to have milk with cereal or milk in your coffee, for example.
Regular Milk
Fat-free regular milk includes 90 calories in 1 cup of milk. It also contains 10 percent of your daily allowance of Vitamin A, 30 percent of your daily recommended calcium, 25 percent of your daily Vitamin D needs and 4 percent of your daily Vitamin C. In addition, it contains 25 percent of your daily phosphorus needs. It also contains no fat and 9 g of protein.
Lactose-Free Milk
Fat free, lactose-free milk contains 90 calories in 1 cup of milk. It also contains 10 percent of your daily allowance of Vitamin A, 30 percent of your daily recommended calcium and 25 percent of your daily Vitamin D needs. In addition, it contains 25 percent of your daily phosphorus needs and 25 percent of your need for riboflavin. It also contains no fat or Vitamin C and 9 g of protein. The lactase enzyme doesn't add any vitamins; it is only listed as an ingredient.
Differences
The only vitamin difference between the two milks is the presence of Vitamin C. Lactose-free milk does not provide any, while regular milk provides just 4 percent of the recommended daily amount. However, lactose-free milk provides significantly more riboflavin. In addition, lactose-free milk is available with additional calcium that provides up to 66 percent more calcium than regular milk. As calcium is critical to bone health, lactose-free milk is a viable dietary option for many who have the intolerance and need to limit their dairy intake.
References
- MayoClinic.com; Lactose Intolerance: Causes; February 2010
- Safeway Organic Fat Free Milk with Vitamins A & D Added; Half-Gallon Container
- Lucerne Fat Free Milk with Vitamins A & D, Ultra-Pasteurized, 100% Lactose Free; Half-Gallon Container
- Lucerne Fat Free Milk with Vitamins A & D, Ultra-Pasteurized, Calcium Enriched, 100% Lactose Free; Half-Gallon Container
- Asia-Pacific Food Industry; Lactase: An Optimum Enzyme for Low Lactose Dairy Products; June 2001
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