By:  Sasha Klemawesch, MD

If you are a dairy lover who is also unfortunately lactose intolerant (and therefore, dependent on taking Lactaid capsules every time you want to eat some cheese or drink a milkshake), good news!  You may be able to scrap those pills!

Studies have shown that lactose intolerant patients who have regularly consumed dairy products (aided by Lactaid capsules), are often able to stop the pills after a few years.  Because they were partaking in dairy on a regular basis, the bacteria in their gut microbiome evolved to accommodate the milk, yogurt, etc.  Once the flora in your GI tract adjusts, the bacteria themselves can take over digesting the lactose, so even though the patient is still technically lactose intolerant, their microbiome has taken over the job that the Lactaid caps were doing and they’re now able to go out for ice cream without taking their medicine along with them.