Nutritional guidelines for adults with lactose malabsorption: recommended food products and approaches to addressing potential nutrient deficiencies
Tomasz Jankowski
2026-03-15
7 min. read
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Lactose intolerance in adults represents a significant and widespread health concern, affecting between 17% and 37% of the population in Poland alone. The condition arises due to a deficiency or reduced activity of lactase, the digestive enzyme tasked with breaking down milk sugar. When lactose remains undigested, it undergoes bacterial fermentation in the intestines, leading to symptoms such as abdominal distension, discomfort, a sensation of fullness, loose stools, and—on occasion—increased anxiety levels. For individuals affected by this disorder, the adoption of an elimination diet is considered the most effective approach, as it excludes lactose-containing foods and thereby prevents the gastrointestinal distress associated with the accumulation of unabsorbed sugar.
Lactose intolerance
Lactose is a milk sugar consisting of two monosaccharides glucose molecules and galactose. If the sugar is not stored, the lactose molecules that are stored in the milk under proper conditions under the influence of the enzyme beta-galactose (commonly lactase) are catalyzed in the small intestine in the presence of water to the simple sugars glucose and galactoses, which freely enter the bloodstream and are used by the body for energy purposes.
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