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The Position of Pediatricians on Lactose Intolerance
According to new guidelines from the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP), the elimination of dairy products to treat lactose intolerance should be considered a last resort. Their reasoning is that milk and milk-product avoidance has a negative effect on calcium and vitamin D1 intake, and that these and other nutrients, such as protein, make dairy products an important source of nutrition for growing children.
Research has shown that children who avoid milk consume too little calcium to meet the needs for normal bone calcium accretion and bone mineralization. The AAP also points out that since dietary lactose has been shown to enhance calcium absorption, lactose-free diets may actually increase the risk of inadequate bone mineralization.
Learn more about lactose intolerance
References
- Heyman MB. Lactose intolerance in infants, children, and adolescents. Pediatr 2006;118:1279-1286. Available on-line.
Keywords: lactose intolerance, health studies
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