What Is the First-Line Treatment for Lactose Intolerance?
Lactose intolerance (ICD-11 5C61.6) causes gastrointestinal symptoms following lactose ingestion. The first-line approach targets symptom resolution and aims to prevent their recurrence when lactose is reintroduced.
Treatment Approach
First-line management combines dietary modification to reduce lactose exposure with a non-prescription supplementation strategy used at the time of lactose ingestion. Additional nutritional considerations apply when dairy intake is restricted. The complete regimen — including which sources to review, what to supplement, and how to structure intake — is set out in the full protocol.
Treatment Goals
Improvement of lactose intolerance symptoms, with no return of symptoms when lactose is reintroduced.
References
- The best treatment of lactose intolerance is a combination of dietary modification to avoid lactose containing foods, and if eating foods with lactose taking a supplement to aid in digestion of lactose.
- Some reduction in the daily lactose consumption is usually required.
- When an individual is going to be eating a food that contains lactose they should take a commercially available non-prescription lactase supplement at the time of lactose ingestion.
- If an individual is restricting their milk/dairy intake it is important to ensure adequate supplementation of calcium and Vitamin D in the diet.
- In those who cannot undergo testing, removal of lactose from the diet and possible supplementation with lactase can be done for 2 weeks to see if this improves the symptoms and see if symptoms return if lactose is added back to the diet.
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