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Undernourished Children and Milk Lactose
Benedikte Grenov1, André Briend2, Per T Sangild3
1Department of Nutrition, Exercise and Sports, University of Copenhagen, Frederiksberg C, Denmark bgr@nexs.ku.dk.
Food and Nutrition Bulletin
|February 20, 2016
Summary
Lactose offers potential benefits for undernourished children, including improved gut health and mineral absorption. While lactose intolerance is a concern, most children tolerate low-lactose foods, with research needed to optimize its use.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Nutrition
- Gastroenterology
- Public Health
Background:
- Lactose is a primary energy source for young mammals, comprising 40% of intake in breast-fed infants.
- The role of lactose in feeding undernourished children is not well-established.
- This review examines lactose's effects in pediatric malnutrition.
Purpose of the Study:
- To conduct a narrative review on the potential positive and negative impacts of lactose in treating undernourished children.
- To synthesize current evidence on lactose's role in pediatric malnutrition management.
Main Methods:
- Comprehensive literature searches were performed using PubMed and Web of Science databases.
- Searches were conducted up to July 2015.
- Relevant references from retrieved articles were included for analysis.
Main Results:
- Lactose may provide prebiotic benefits to gut microbiota and enhance mineral absorption in children.
- Studies in piglets suggest lactose may stimulate growth compared to other carbohydrates.
- While most undernourished children tolerate low-lactose therapeutic foods, some with severe enteropathy may require restricted lactose content.
- Incorporating lactose into food products for undernourished children may offer benefits at minimal additional cost.
Conclusions:
- Lactose could be a valuable, yet overlooked, nutrient for young, undernourished populations.
- Further research is essential to determine the optimal balance of lactose's benefits and risks in undernourished children.
- Understanding the impact of age, diarrhea severity, and intestinal integrity on lactose tolerance is crucial.
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