Can individuals with lactose intolerance and diarrhea drink milk?
Feb 13, 2025
Source: Cainiu Health
Dr. Shen Yonghua
Introduction
Milk contains lactose, which individuals with lactose intolerance cannot fully digest due to insufficient lactase enzyme levels or reduced lactase activity. Undigested lactose undergoes bacterial fermentation in the intestine, producing lactic acid, carbon dioxide, and other substances. This increases osmotic pressure within the intestine, leading to increased intestinal water content and stimulating faster intestinal motility, which can cause symptoms such as diarrhea, bloating, and abdominal pain.
Generally, individuals with lactose intolerance-induced diarrhea are not advised to drink milk. The detailed explanation is as follows:
Milk contains lactose. Individuals with lactose intolerance lack sufficient lactase enzyme or have reduced lactase activity, making it difficult for them to fully digest and break down the lactose present in milk. Undigested lactose undergoes bacterial fermentation in the intestines, producing lactic acid, carbon dioxide, and other substances. This increases osmotic pressure within the intestine, resulting in increased intestinal fluid and stimulating faster intestinal motility, thereby causing symptoms such as diarrhea, bloating, and abdominal pain. Therefore, consuming milk may exacerbate symptoms in individuals with lactose intolerance-related diarrhea.
Patients experiencing lactose intolerance-induced diarrhea should avoid drinking milk. If dairy products are necessary for dietary intake, they can choose specially processed, low-lactose or lactose-free dairy products, such as lactase-treated milk or yogurt. Additionally, patients can opt for other non-lactose-containing foods to meet their nutritional needs, such as soy milk, rice porridge, or millet porridge.
Individuals with lactose intolerance-induced diarrhea can choose low-lactose or lactose-free dairy products to fulfill their nutritional needs, such as yogurt and cheese. The lactose in yogurt is partially broken down during the fermentation process, and the probiotics it contains help regulate intestinal flora, benefiting gut health. Cheese contains relatively low levels of lactose and is suitable for individuals with lactose intolerance.
