Lactose-free milk and symptoms in lactose-intolerant Korean adults
What it found
In 28 South Korean adults with lactose intolerance, chocolate-flavoured lactose-free milk led to much lower breath hydrogen and symptom scores than whole milk.
The test was done in people.
What they found
Studies in people
Breath hydrogen
Breath hydrogen rose much less after the lactose-free milk than after the whole milk. The average peak was 8.6 ppm with lactose-free milk compared with 33.3 ppm with whole milk.
Symptom scores
Total symptom scores dropped from an average of 4.18 after whole milk to 0.61 after lactose-free milk.
Tolerance
The authors report that the flavoured lactose-free milk was well tolerated by the adults diagnosed with lactose intolerance.
What the authors conclude
“Flavored LFM is well tolerated in South Korean adults diagnosed with LI based on the HBT and symptom questionnaire results.”
Also in their conclusions
- They conclude that flavored LFM is well tolerated in South Korean adults diagnosed with LI based on the HBT and symptom questionnaire results.
- They say that LFM may be a viable alternative to WM.
How it was done
Lactose-free dairy products are widely sold for managing lactose intolerance, but the authors say scientific evidence on how well they work is still lacking.
Adults suspected of lactose intolerance took a hydrogen breath test after drinking 570 mL of chocolate-flavoured whole milk, which contains 20 g of lactose, and answered a symptom questionnaire. Those diagnosed with lactose intolerance then repeated the test one week later with 570 mL of chocolate-flavoured lactose-free milk, which contains 0 g of lactose. After exclusions, 28 people were enrolled.
What it can’t tell you
- We summarised it from the abstract only.
- This was a small study of 28 people, so the results may not apply to everyone with lactose intolerance.
- It only tested one chocolate-flavoured lactose-free milk and one whole milk, so other products may behave differently.
Who paid
- Authors work at
- Kyung Hee University School of Medicine, Korea; Cheonan-Woori Hospital, Korea; Maeil Innovation Center, Korea
The paper
- Title
- Benefits of Flavored Lactose-Free Milk for Korean Adults with Lactose Intolerance
- Type
- Study
- Evidence
- Studies in people
- Summarised from
- Abstract only
- Cite
- Oh CH, Kim JW, Park YM, et al (2022). Benefits of Flavored Lactose-Free Milk for Korean Adults with Lactose Intolerance. Journal of medicinal food. doi:10.1089/jmf.2022.K.0010PubMed 36179067DOI
Summary written 26 Sep 2026. Check it against the paper before it changes what you eat. How we summarise papers · Report an error