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Effects of Raw Milk vs Paseurized Milk on Lactose Maldigestion and Symptoms of Lactose Intolerance Among Lactose Intolerant Adults

Lactose intolerance is a very common condition worldwide, especially in certain ethnic groups, and its incidence increases with age. A growing number of Americans are choosing to consume raw, unpasteurized milk rather than conventional pasteurized milk. Several health claims are made by raw milk enthusiasts, but most of them are anecdotal and remain untested. One of such claims is that lactose intolerant adults can enjoy raw milk with minimal to no symptoms. The objective of this study was to determine if lactose malabsorption and symptoms of lactose intolerance would be reduced when consuming raw milk vs. conventional pasteurized milk.

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Eligible Participants

  • Adults with self-reported lactose intolerance of moderate to severe severity
  • Having lactose malabsorption confirmed by hydrogen breath testing

Study Design

Sixteen participants were asked to consume three types of milk for 8 days in random order: organic whole raw milk, organic whole pasteurized milk, and plain soy milk (as control). In order to blind the participants to the prescribed milk, a sugar-free vanilla syrup was added to all milks. During each 8-day phase, participants were asked to increase the dosage of milk to explore their tolerances from a small to a substantial dose (4 to 24 oz). They were asked to record their symptoms and continue to increase the dose by 4 oz until their symptoms were so severe that they were unwilling to continue. A hydrogen breath test was conducted on days 1 and 8 of each milk phase using 16 oz of the milk specific to that study phase.

Conclusions

The results of this study showed that the raw milk failed to reduce lactose malabsorption or lactose intolerance symptoms compared with pasteurized milk among adults positive for lactose malabsorption. In fact, the hydrogen breath tests results showed higher lactose malabsorption for raw vs pasteurized milk on day 1, and comparable degrees of lactose malabsorption for both milks on day 8. The severities of symptoms reported on day 7 were similar for raw and pasteurized milk. These findings do not support widespread anecdotal claims that raw milk reduces the symptoms of lactose intolerance.

Research