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Lactose Intolerance
Lactose Intolerance and Minorities: The Real Story
Should Dairy Food Recommendations in Dietary Guidelines and Child Nutrition Programs be Modified for Minorities?
The Dietary Guidelines for Americans recommend two to three servings/day of foods from the milk group (e.g., milk, yogurt, cheese). These guidelines “provide advice for healthy Americans 2 years and over about food choices that promote health and prevent disease.” Health professionals such as registered dietitians and physicians can adapt these general guidelines for individuals with specific disorders. For individuals with lactose intolerance who have difficulty consuming regular dairy foods such as milk, lactose-reduced or lactose-free dairy foods may be an option. However, as many researchers have demonstrated, lactose intolerance is not a problem for the majority of Americans and can be easily managed for those with this condition.
"If you drink milk in 1 cup quantities or less, you may not need lactose-free milk. Well controlled trials have shown that the vast majority of people who are lactose intolerant report no significant difference in symptoms when drinking one cup of regular milk compared to lactose-free milk."
Michael Levitt, M.D.
Associate Chief of Staff for Research
Minneapolis VA Medical Center
Minneapolis, MN
Many individuals with lactose intolerance can tolerate two servings of dairy foods/day with meals such as breakfast and dinner. Furthermore, intake of lactose-containing foods may actually improve tolerance to lactose. Many minorities consume diets low in calcium and are at risk of calcium deficiency-related diseases. For these reasons, intake of dairy foods, regular or lactose-reduced, should be a priority for minorities – and nonminorities – alike.
"The beauty of the DASH diet is that it so closely follows the Dietary Guidelines which are for the general healthy population. The DASH study results are so overwhelmingly supportive of the need for two to three servings of dairy foods a day for blood pressure reduction, it's to everyone's benefit, especially African Americans, to follow the Dietary Guidelines."
Marlene Most-Windhauser Ph.D., R.D., L.D.N., F.A.D.A
Associate Professor of Research
Pennington Biomedical Research Center
Baton Rouge, LA
"The American Academy of Pediatrics, Committee on Nutrition, recognizes the importance of calcium for children and that lactose intolerance is more common in minorities than in Caucasians. “Many children with lactose intolerance can drink small amounts of milk without discomfort. Other alternatives include the use of other dairy products, such as solid cheeses and yogurts that may be better tolerated than milk. Lactose-free and low-lactose milks are available."
American Academy of Pediatrics
Committee on Nutrition
Government and school food service personnel are currently discussing whether lactose-free milk should be offered in school cafeterias, particularly for minorities. Milk is an important food to include in children's diets. A system is in place to offer lactose-free milk to students participating in federally-sponsored child nutrition programs. Also, the same tips that apply to adults to improve tolerance to milk also apply to children.
"Offering lactose-free milk provides another choice for those students who are lactose intolerant. But, lactose-free milk costs more than other milk products, and recent studies have shown that lactose intolerant individuals may be able to consume some regular dairy products such as milk with meals, yogurt, and cheese, without experiencing adverse side effects."
Diane Bierbauer, M.S., R.D.
Manager of Nutrition and Education for the American School Food Service Association in Alexandria, VA.
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