Reduced intolerance symptoms from lactose consumed during a meal

Area of Science:

• Gastroenterology
• Human Nutrition
• Digestive Physiology

Background:

• Lactose intolerance affects a significant portion of the global population.
• Lactase deficiency leads to maldigestion of lactose, causing gastrointestinal discomfort.
• Dietary strategies to manage lactose intolerance symptoms are of significant interest.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate lactose digestion and tolerance from lactose-containing beverages when consumed with food.
• To determine the impact of food intake on the rate of lactose digestion and the onset of intolerance symptoms.
• To compare symptom severity with and without the co-ingestion of food.

Main Methods:

• Breath-hydrogen testing was used to measure lactose digestion in 12 lactase-deficient subjects.
• Lactose tolerance was assessed by comparing hydrogen production after consuming a lactose solution, a milk-based food supplement, and the supplement with a meal.
• Subjective intolerance symptoms were recorded and severity was evaluated.

Main Results:

• Co-ingestion of a meal with a lactose-containing supplement delayed peak hydrogen production by 3 hours compared to a lactose solution alone.
• Hydrogen production was significantly lower in the first 4 hours when the supplement was consumed with a meal versus the supplement alone (p < 0.03).
• The number of subjects experiencing intolerance symptoms decreased from nine to three when the supplement was consumed with a meal, with significantly reduced severity.

Conclusions:

• Consuming food simultaneously with lactose-containing beverages improves lactose tolerance in lactase-deficient individuals.
• Delayed gastric emptying due to food intake is a likely mechanism for reduced lactose intolerance symptoms.
• Individuals with lactose malabsorption are advised to consume food with lactose-containing beverages to mitigate digestive discomfort.