Management of lactose intolerance

Abstract

The management of lactose intolerance comprises two parts: (1) the basic principles of treatment in persons intolerant to a dietary dose of lactose, and (2) main manoeuvres to reduce the lactose content in food, and/or consumption of special products of milk or exogenous lactase enzyme. The tactics of management depend on the type of hypolactasia, the severity of intolerance, and on the age of the patient. Special attention is paid to the development of lactose intolerance in some patients via iatrogenic mechanisms such as certain drugs, gastric surgery and ionizing radiation.