In Other Journals

Most people with presumed lactose intolerance or lactose malabsorption can tolerate a cup of milk — according to the US authors of a systematic review. Shaukat and colleagues identified 36 unique randomised studies of individuals with lactose intolerance or malabsorption. They found that 12 to 15 g of lactose — approximately one cup of milk — is well tolerated by most adults. Symptoms occurred with increasing doses, with substantial symptoms reported in most studies testing the effects of 50 g of lactose. The researchers found there was insufficient evidence to determine the effectiveness of various treatments for lactose intolerance, including lactose-reduced milk, yoghurt, probiotics, the antibiotic rifaximin, and colonic adaptation.