Evaluation of lactose and milk intolerance, and bone mineral density in Indian patients with inflammatory bowel disease.

BACKGROUND

A misconception that milk and lactose intolerance increases disease activity in inflammatory bowel disease leads to the exclusion of dietary dairy products, and patients are at an increased risk of low bone mineral density.

METHODS

Patients with inflammatory bowel disease (n=45, 19 men and 26 women) and healthy controls were included in this prospective open-label study. As part of exploratory dietary intervention, patients were advised to exclude milk and milk products from diet for the first 7 days and reintroduce at least 250 ml of milk for the next 21 days. Milk and lactose intolerance was assessed in patients and healthy subjects using clinical symptoms and lactose hydrogen breath test, respectively; bone mineral density was assessed in patients using a Hologic QDR 4500A DXA machine.

RESULTS

Milk and lactose intolerance was statistically comparable in patients with inflammatory bowel disease (31% and 44%, respectively) and healthy subjects (22% and 27%, respectively). Most of the patients (40%) had excluded dairy products from their diet, and 53% had dietary intake of calcium <200 mg/day. More than 60% of the patients had either osteopenia or osteoporosis.

CONCLUSION

Milk and lactose intolerance in patients with inflammatory bowel disease was not different from that in healthy subjects. The proportion of patients with osteoporosis and osteopenia was high in this population. Hence, patients with inflammatory bowel disease in remission phase may be encouraged to add dairy products in their diet, unless otherwise indicated.