Food Supplements are intended to supplement the diet and should not be substituted for a varied diet or healthy lifestyle. Sanders SW, Tolman KG, Reitberg DP. Effect of a single dose of lactase on symptoms and expired hydrogen after lactose challenge in lactose-intolerant subjects. Clin Pharm 1992;11:533-8.. View abstract. Treatments depend on the cause of lactose intolerance. If your lactose intolerance is caused by lactase nonpersistence or congenital lactase deficiency, no treatments can increase the amount of lactase your small intestine makes. Your doctor can help you change your diet to manage your symptoms. When mutations occur in the genes that control the production of lactase, resulting in less output, lactase deficiency (a form of lactose intolerance) develops. This results in the inability to digest lactose. Ibrahim SA, Gyawali R, Awaisheh SS, et al. Fermented foods and probiotics: an approach to lactose intolerance. Journal of Dairy Research. 2021;88(3):357-365. doi:10.1017/S0022029921000625

Try a one-week trial of Colief Infant Drops to help diagnose whether temporary lactose intolerance could be the cause of your baby’s colic symptoms.What foods contain lactase? Lactase itself is not found in foods, but lactose is (a type of sugar). Catanzaro R, Sciuto M, Marotta F. Lactose intolerance: an update on its pathogenesis, diagnosis, and treatment. Nutr Res. 2021;89:23-34. doi:10.1016/j.nutres.2021.02.003. Lactase enzyme pills usually come in doses between 3,000 and 9,000 international units per tablet. (This is the amount found in Lactaid Original and Lactaid Fast Act.) Voisin MR, Borici-Mazi R. Anaphylaxis to supplemental oral lactase enzyme. Allergy Asthma Clin Immunol. 2016;12:66. doi:10.1186/s13223-016-0171-8 Some people may only need to limit the amount of lactose they eat or drink, while others may need to avoid lactose altogether. Using lactase products can help some people manage their symptoms. Lactase products

Baijal R, Tandon RK. Effect of lactase on symptoms and hydrogen breath levels in lactose intolerance: A crossover placebo-controlled study. JGH Open 2020;5(1):143-148. View abstract. Keep a log of the times when your baby’s colic is at its worst – you may be able to find a pattern associated with any triggers, allowing you to understand better how to ease the symptoms. Horowitz M, Wishart J, Mundy L, Nordin BE. Lactose and calcium absorption in postmenopausal osteoporosis. Arch Intern Med 1987;147:534-6. View abstract. Several drops (about three of four) can also be added to breast milk or formula to support digestion in infants.How does lactase work, and are lactase pills safe? Below we’ll cover the function of lactase enzymes and potential benefits of taking it in supplement form, plus tips on managing lactose intolerance if you prefer not to only rely on supplements. What Is Lactase?

Ojetti V, Gigante G, Gabrielli M, Ainora M, et al. The effect of oral supplementation with Lactobacillus reuteri or tilactase in lactose intolerant patients: randomized trial. Eur Rev Med Pharmacol Sci. 2010;14(3):163-170.

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Take a daily probiotic supplement, which supports digestive health, a healthy balance of gut microbiota and nutrient absorption. You can also obtain live or active cultures from fermented foods like yogurt, kefir, kombucha and fermented vegetables. These supplements are most often made from beta-galactosidase, a compound derived from the fermentation of the fungi Aspergillus niger or Aspergillus oryzae. Di Costanzo M, Berni Canani R. Lactose intolerance: common misunderstandings. Ann Nutr Metab. 2018;73(Suppl 4):30-37. doi:10.1159/000493669 Before taking this product, please consult your doctor or pharmacist if you are taking any medication, or have any medical condition. Tolerance to lactose is variable, please seek advice as to the role of this substance in your diet.