“How effective are lactase enzyme tablets for children?”

Hi! Lactose intolerance occurs when the body cannot breakdown lactose. Lactose is a complex sugar that is a component of milk and is distinct from milk protein. Lactose consists of two little sugars, glucose and galactose that are bonded together. When you drink milk, lactose travels into your stomach and then into your small intestine where you should make “lactase”, an enzyme, that cuts the bond between glucose and galactose. Now, these two little sugars are separate and small enough to be absorbed through the intestinal wall into the bloodstream and can be used for energy. Patients with lactose intolerance do not make any lactase or do not make enough lactase to cut the bonds of every lactose molecule that arrives in the small intestine. The lactose proceeds undigested or “uncut” into the large intestine where there are bacteria that normally live there. These bacteria are happy to see lactose arrive and ferment it. That leads to gas, abdominal pain, and often, diarrhea. Please note that this is NOT a milk protein allergy.

The treatment for lactose intolerance is either avoidance of milk products or drinking lactase-treated milk (Lactase milk that is now lactose free), or giving lactase tablets when the patient is about to consume dairy products. There should be no difference in efficacy between an adult or a pediatric patient, assuming the pediatric patient can swallow the caplet. Please note that the proper dose of lactase is very individual and will depend upon how much lactase one can produce and how much milk product is being consumed at that time. Some individuals require one caplet for 8 oz of milk; I’ve seen others that require 4 caplets for the same amount of milk. It could take a bit of experimenting to figure it out. Fortunately, it is difficult to overdose lactase; it’s just an enzyme. Hope that helps!

Lactose intolerance is a very complex subject it’s best to have a GI specialist diagnose this disorder. Lactase tablets are effective in small amounts when huge consumptions of dairy products are consumed. Again should seek a specialists for accurate diagnosis and proper treatment plan

Good luck
Dr M

If your baby is lactose intolerant, he/she may have diarrhea, abdominal cramping, bloating, or gas after drinking breast milk or eating dairy products, like cheese or yogurt, once he/she starts eating solids
For the Natural & Safe management of Infantile colic & symptoms of Lactose Intolerance or Lactose maldigestion. Lactase enzyme drops you can use that helps break down lactose, and thus help relieve the colic symptoms.

Lactase merely makes the sugar in milk, lactose, easier to digest. When milk is made into cheese and yogurt, the milk sugar is changed by the heat. So a person with lactose deficiency can eat cheese and yogurt.
In children, many of them have true allergy to milk protein and often can not eat cheese or yogurt. So if the child has such problem, it is allergy not lactose intolerance. Milk allergy is less common in adults and that may be why some would call lactase treatment ineffective in children.

Hi,

The lactase containing tablets have not been tested in children. They are, however, safe. It may well be worth a try for a week.

Regards,
Dr. Manjra