Article Figures & Data
Figures
- Figure 1
Milk dosage protocol and outcome measures for each 8-day milk phase: full amount of milk was consumed in 1 sitting on each day.
HBT = hydrogen breath test; Symptoms = self-reported severity of 4 symptoms: flatulence/gas, diarrhea, audible bowel sounds, and abdominal cramping.
- Figure 2
Breath H2 results for 63 participants with self-reported lactose intolerance (mean ± SEM).
H2 = hydrogen; SEM = standard error of the mean.
Note: of 63 participants, 27 (43%) tested positive for lactose malabsorption, as evidenced by a rise in H2 ≥25 ppm, and 36 (57%) tested negative.
- Figure 3a
Breath H2 results for day 1 of each 8-day crossover phase (n = 16) (mean ± SEM).
H2 = hydrogen; SEM = standard error of the mean.
Note: End-alveolar air samples collected before and at 12 consecutive 20-minute intervals after ingestion of 473 mL (16 oz) of milk.
- Figure 3b
Breath H2 results for day 8 of each 8-day crossover phase (n = 14) (mean ± SEM).
H2 = hydrogen; SEM = standard error of the mean.
Note: End-alveolar air samples collected before and at 12 consecutive 20-minute intervals after ingestion of 473 mL (16 oz) of milk. All data for 2 participants who did not undergo the day-8 hydrogen breath test during one of the milk phases were omitted from this analysis.
- Figure 4
Lactose intolerance symptom severity report following ingestion of 710 mL (24 oz) of milk on day 7 of each 8-day crossover phase (n = 13) (mean ± SEM).
Note: Visual analog scale: 0 = no symptoms, 10 = unbearably severe symptoms. All data for 3 participants who were unable to complete one of the 710 mL (24 oz) doses were omitted from this analysis.
Tables
Component Raw Milk Pasteurized Milk Soy (Nondairy) Milk Energy (kcal) 145 145 126 Macronutrients (g) Fat 7.8 7.8 3.9 Protein 7.8 7.8 6.8 Carbohydrate 11.6 11.6 15.5 Sugars 11.6 11.6 8.7 Lactose 11.6 11.6 0 -
Note: All milk products included sugar-free vanilla syrup flavoring in a flavoring to milk ratio of 1:31.
-
Phase Milk Consumption Phases P Valuea Raw (R) Pasteurized (P) Soy (S) R vs P R vs S P vs S AUC ∆H2b Day 1 113 ± 21 71 ± 12 5 ± 2 0.01 <.001 <.001 Day 8 72 ± 14c 74 ± 15 5 ± 2 0.9 <.001 <.001 Peak ∆H2 Day 1 117 ± 20 75 ± 11 11 ± 4 0.01 <.001 <.001 Day 8 79 ± 14d 80 ± 13 12 ± 3 0.9 <.001 <.001 -
ANOVA = analysis of variance; AUC ∆H2 = area under the H2 curve above baseline; Peak ∆H2 = highest H2 concentration after milk ingestion, minus baseline concentration (ppm); H2 = hydrogen; HBT = hydrogen breath test.
-
Notes: End-alveolar air samples collected before and at 12 consecutive 20-minute intervals after ingestion of 473 mL (16 oz) of milk. All data for 2 participants who did not undergo the day-8 HBT during one of the milk phases were omitted from the day-8 analysis (n = 14). In the analysis comparing days 1 and 8, all data were omitted for 1 participant in the R phase and 1 participant in the P phase analyses who did not complete the day-8 HBT in each respective phase (n = 15).
-
↵a Group differences were tested by repeated-measures ANOVA, showing significant differences among the 3 milks in all instances (P <.001). Pairwise differences were subsequently calculated using matched pairs t tests.
-
↵b AUC ∆H2 calculated by the linear trapezoidal method (ppm · min · 10−2).
-
↵c Matched pair t test for day 1 vs day 8 for raw milk (n = 15): P = .05.
-
↵d Matched pair t test for day 1 vs day 8 for raw milk (n = 15): P = .06.
-
The Article in Brief
Effect of Raw Milk on Lactose Intolerance: A Randomized Controlled Pilot Study
Christopher Gardner , and colleagues
Background Unpasteurized raw milk consumption has increased in popularity and emerged into a nationwide movement. This pilot study aimed to determine whether raw milk reduces lactose malabsorption and/or lactose intolerance symptoms associated with pasteurized milk.
What This Study Found Raw milk did not reduce lactose malabsorption or lactose intolerance symptoms when compared with pasturized milk. Data on 16 adults with lactose intolerance and lactose malabsorption who underwent three eight-day milk phases (raw vs 2 controls: pasteurized milk and soy) in randomized order separated by 1-week washout periods were analyzed. Hydrogen breath testing showed higher lactose malabsorption for raw vs pasteurized milk on day 1 and comparable degrees of lactose malabsorption on day 8. Self-reported symptom severities were similar for raw and pasteurized milk on day 7. Compared to soy milk, both dairy milks caused significantly greater degrees of lactose malabsorption and intolerance symptoms.
Implications
- The evidence supporting raw milk consumption remains anecdotal, as do other health benefit claims for raw milk. The authors call for larger trials to confirm these findings and examine potential ethnic and racial differences.
