Lactose intolerance refers to symptoms such as flatulence, bloating, abdominal pain, and diarrhoea that occur after excessive intake of lactose (a sugar found in milk) relative to the body’s ability to break it down by the intestinal enzyme lactase. Regular consumption of milk and other dairy products may help reduce the extent of symptoms related to lactose intolerance.
Although a small number of children are born with lactose intolerance, it is more common for Asian children to experience an age-related decline in lactase activity after 2-3 years of age, which may lead to lactose intolerance. Experiencing lactose intolerance however does not mean that your child cannot benefit from consuming milk and dairy products. In general, people with lactose intolerance are still able to absorb calcium from these foods. Here are a few tips to help your child if he has lactose intolerance:
- Consume milk and dairy products regularly. Prolonged exposure to lactose can help reduce the severity of lactose intolerance symptoms, possibly because colonic bacteria are able to adapt by digesting lactose more rapidly.
- Choose cheese and yoghurt. They are lower in lactose and the active cultures in yoghurts can help with digestion.
- Consume milk and dairy products in small portions (e.g. 100ml of milk) together with a meal to aid digestion.
- Choose lactose-reduced or lactose-free-milk and dairy products.
However, if your child, for some reason, cannot tolerate milk and dairy products at all, please consult your doctor and dietitian for further advice.
