Milk intolerance is an inability to break down the main sugar found in dairy products (lactose) due to the lack of a specific digestive enzyme (lactase). This results in symptoms such as gas, bloating and abdominal pain. Milk intolerance is not the same as a milk allergy, because the immune system is not involved in the reaction.

Milk intolerance is a common condition. According to the National Digestive Diseases Information Clearinghouse, between 30 million and 50 million Americans are intolerant to lactose to some degree. Almost 75 percent of all African Americans and 90 percent of Asian Americans are intolerant to lactose.

Milk intolerance can be the result of the body gradually creating less and less lactase over time, or it can come as the result of sudden damage to the small intestine (e.g., viral infection, stomach flu, surgery). Milk intolerance is a condition that is often genetically passed on from parent to child. In some rare cases a child is born without the ability to produce lactase at all.

The most effective treatment for milk intolerance is to limit or completely remove lactose from the diet. Milk intolerance symptoms and reactions vary between individuals, and some people will be affected by some dairy products that other individuals can tolerate without symptoms. Patients experiencing the symptoms of milk intolerance should discuss the problem with their physician to rule out conditions with similar symptoms (e.g., irritable bowel syndrome).

Adjusting the diet to accommodate milk intolerance may mean choosing other foods or taking dietary supplements in order to get healthy amounts of some dietary nutrients – primarily calcium. A physician can provide this type of dietary guidance or recommend a dietician who can help.

Individuals with milk intolerance can sometimes use supplements of lactase in order to tolerate small amounts of foods that contain lactose. Also, some dairy products come in “lactose free” versions that can be safely enjoyed by someone with milk intolerance without the risk of symptoms occurring.