WASHINGTON — People may avoid milk and other dairy products due to concerns
about lactose intolerance, but eliminating these nutrient-rich foods may not
only be unnecessary to manage the condition it could impact diet and health,
concludes a panel of experts assembled by the National Institutes of Health (NIH).
The NIH Consensus Development Conference on Lactose Intolerance and Health was
convened to examine the latest research on lactose intolerance, strategies to
manage the condition and the health outcomes of diets that exclude dairy foods.
Lactose is the natural sugar in milk and some people lack sufficient amounts of
an enzyme that is needed to comfortably digest lactose.
After a thorough review of the scientific evidence, the Consensus Development
Conference panel completed a draft consensus statement that is intended to
correct some of the common misperceptions about lactose intolerance, including
the belief that dairy foods need to be excluded from the diet.
Without lowfat and fat free milk and milk products in the diet, it’s hard to
meet nutrient needs, and available research suggests people with lactose
intolerance can tolerate at least 12 grams of lactose (the amount in about one
cup of milk) with no or minor symptoms. Plus, gradually re-introducing dairy
into the diet can help manage symptoms and help those diagnosed benefit from
dairy’s unique nutrient package, including calcium, vitamin D, protein,
potassium and other nutrients that are critical for bone health and beyond.
Experts also suggest drinking lowfat or fat free milk (regular or flavored) with
meals or a snack instead of an empty stomach, trying small, frequent portions or
buying lactose-free or lactose-reduced milk- which contain all the same
nutrients as regular milk. Yogurt and hard cheese (the panel suggests cheddar,
provolone and mozzarella) may also be more easily digested.
Conducted by the National Institutes of Health since 1977, the Consensus
Development Program is an unbiased, independent, evidence-based assessment of
complex medical issues. The purpose is to evaluate the available scientific
evidence on a medical topic and develop a statement that will advance the
understanding of the issue and help guide the advice given by health
professionals and directed to the public.
Lactose intolerance is a topic that is frequently misunderstood, according to
Dr. Robert P. Heaney, a prominent researcher at Creighton University who
presented findings to the panel on the health outcomes of dairy exclusion diets.
“With modern diets, eliminating dairy from the diet- for any reason whatsoever-
will result in poor nutrition with long-term consequences for health,” said
Heaney.
Heaney said people need a steady supply of calcium, vitamin D and other
bone-building nutrients in milk early in life to lay a sturdy foundation.
Depriving the body of these nutrients has the potential to impact bone health
throughout the lifecycle. Additionally, lowfat and fat free milk is the top food
source of vitamin D, which has been linked to a growing range of health
benefits.
African Americans have been found to have lower intakes of vitamin D, which is
likely linked, in part, to their concerns about lactose intolerance. Yet, even
if you have lactose intolerance and fewer people likely have symptoms of this
condition than previously believed it’s still important to find ways to
incorporate milk and milk products into the diet.
This is the same conclusion made by the National Medical Association, the
nation’s largest group of African American physicians. The NMA released its own
policy statement that alerted African-Americans that they may be at risk for
nutrient deficits as a result of under-consumption of dairy foods.
Prevalence Estimates for Lactose Intolerance
While the panel concluded that there’s insufficient evidence to determine a true
prevalence of the condition, one new study presented at the conference suggested
the age-adjusted, self-reported prevalence may be as little as 12 percent of the
U.S. population, on average. This recent data from a national sample of three
ethnic groups indicated that 7.7 percent of European Americans. 10.1 percent of
Hispanic Americans and 19.5 percent of African Americans currently consider
themselves lactose intolerant.
These self-reported prevalence rates are in contrast with previous higher
estimates based on lactose maldigestion studies that over-estimated by wide
margins the proportion of people who experience symptoms after consuming usual
amounts of dairy foods.
Avoiding the Health Risks
Beyond the recommendations of the NIH panel, several major health authorities
agree that it is critical for people with lactose intolerance to consume dairy
products every day to benefit from the unique nutrient profile of these foods.
The Dietary Guidelines for Americans encourage people with lactose intolerance
to try lower-lactose dairy options (such as lactose-free milk, yogurt and hard
cheeses) to ensure they get the important nutrients found in dairy.
The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends children with lactose intolerance
still consume dairy foods to help meet calcium, vitamin D, protein and other
nutrient needs that are essential for bone health and overall growth. The group
cautions that lactose intolerance should not require avoidance of dairy foods.
Additionally, the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants and
Children (WIC) program recommends lactose-reduced or lactose-free milk as a
first choice before non-dairy options for those with lactose intolerance.
Find more resources at
www.NationalDairyCouncil.org
About the National Milk Mustache “got milk?” Campaign
The Milk Processor Education Program (MilkPEP), Washington, D.C., is funded by
the nation’s milk processors, who are committed to increasing fluid milk
consumption. The National Fluid Milk Processor Promotion Board, through MilkPEP,
runs the National Milk Mustache “got milk?” Campaign, a multi-faceted campaign
designed to educate consumers about the health benefits of milk. For more
information, go to www.whymilk.com. Deutsch, A Lowe and Partners Company, is the
creative agency for the National Milk Mustache “got milk?” Campaign.
About National Dairy Council
National Dairy Council (NDC) is the nutrition research, education and
communications arm of Dairy Management Inc. On behalf of U.S. dairy farmers,
NDC provides science-based nutrition information to, and in collaboration with,
a variety of stakeholders committed to fostering a healthier society, including
health professionals, educators, school nutrition directors, academia, industry,
consumers and media. Established in 1915, NDC is dedicated to educating the
public on the health benefits of consuming milk and milk products throughout a
person’s lifespan. For more information, visit NationalDairyCouncil.org.
Source:
MilkPEP