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News Alert Archives
Lactose Lesson: Don't Ditch Dairy
New Study Shows African American Teens Can Get the Calcium They Need Through Dairy
Rosemont, Ill., May 1, 2000 – Lactose maldigestion or trouble digesting lactose, a natural sugar found in milk, does not necessarily mean having to give up dairy products, according to new research published in the Journal of The American Dietetic Association.
"Misunderstanding about lactose maldigestion is at an all-time high, including within the African American community," said co-author of the study Dennis Savaiano, Ph.D., Professor of Foods and Nutrition, Purdue University. "All too often, this misunderstanding leads people to unnecessarily cut dairy out of the diet, eliminating a major source of calcium and other essential nutrients."
Researchers examined the effects of a dairy-rich diet for 21 consecutive days on African American teens who did not like milk and as a result were non-milk drinkers. In the study, participants consumed four servings of dairy each day, about the amount needed to meet current calcium recommendations for teenagers (1,300 mg/day). The results showed that the African American teen girls were able to consume this dairy-rich diet comfortably. In fact, one common test for lactose maldigestion suggested that over the three weeks, the girls’ ability to digest lactose actually improved.
"This ability to adapt to dairy is exciting because African Americans as well as other minority groups often fall short on calcium intakes – putting them at increased risk for osteoporosis and hypertension," said Gregory D. Miller, Ph.D., vice president of nutrition research, National Dairy Council. "These findings show that all minorities, including teens, can and should consume dairy to meet current calcium recommendations."
Milk Matters for Teens
Today’s teenagers are not getting enough calcium-rich milk in their diets. According to NHANES data, teen girls are averaging about 800 mg of calcium per day, well below the recommended 1,300 mg of calcium per day. And, African American teen girls are getting even less calcium per day – about 750 mg. "Since nearly half of all bone is formed during the teen years, it’s a crucial time for teens to get enough calcium from milk to build and maintain strong, healthy bones," states Miller.
TIPS FOR TOLERANCE FOR TEENS:
- Work it in. Start with a smaller portion and slowly increase the serving size.
- Pair the dairy. Drink milk with other foods, not on an empty stomach.
- Say cheese. Cheese (e.g. Cheddar, Colby, Swiss and Parmesan) has very low levels of lactose, so it goes easy on the stomach.
- Get a little "culture." Cultured milk products such as yogurt contain "friendly" bacteria that help digest lactose.
You can rely on the National Dairy Council for credible,
up-to-date news on dairy nutrition research, public policies on nutritional
issues and special dairy nutrition campaigns. Please browse the
News Alert archives or use the search located above the left hand
navigation for more information. If you can't find what you are looking for or
have additional questions, please contact our Nutrition & Health News
Bureau via phone at 312-240-2880 or via e-mail at
ndc@dairyinformation.com.
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