How common is lactose intolerance in India?

Almost, 60 to 65 per cent of people in India are lactose intolerant, which means these people cannot digest lactose, which makes it an even relevant question should we consume dairy?

Why are Indians more lactose intolerant?

The incident of lactose intolerance is higher in southern Indian than in the North. This is because of the Central Asian origins of North Indians. People in Central Asia had been dairying for a long period of time, so they are more accustomed to milk products.

Are Indians lactase persistent?

While most of us have grown up on a diet of milk and milk-based desserts, research shows that few Indians have lactase persistence — or the ability to produce an enzyme to digest milk sugar (lactose) — beyond childhood.

Are South Indians lactose tolerant?

A multicenter study was carried out in India to determine the incidence of lactose intolerance in healthy volunteers from different parts of the country. The incidence was found to be 66.6\% in the subjects from two South Indian centers at Trivandrum and Pondicherry.

Why do South Asians have lactose intolerance?

Lactose intolerance is a common condition caused by the inability of the digestive system to metabolise lactose – the sugar found in milk and other dairy products. Some 90\% of South Asians are thought to be lactose intolerant – more than three times the rate of other ethnic populations.

Which country has the highest rate of lactose intolerance?

The ten countries with the highest prevalence of lactose intolerance are:

• South Korea – 100\%
• Yemen – 100\%
• Solomon Islands – 99\%
• Armenia – 98\%
• Vietnam – 98\%
• Zambia – 98\%
• Azerbaijan – 96\%
• Oman – 96\%

Is lactose free milk available in India?

Amul Lactose Free Milk is first of its kind in India. It is milk without lactose so that a lactose intolerant person can enjoy milk. It has all the goodness of milk like protein, vitamins, calcium etc.

Can Indian people digest milk?

Third, only about a fifth of Indians can digest milk into adulthood, with people in western and northern India being the most likely to do so. The frequency of the gene ranges from over 40 per cent in certain parts of western and northern India to less than 1 per cent in parts of north-east India.

Which country has the least lactose intolerance?

The ten countries with the lowest prevalence of lactose intolerance are:

• Denmark – 4\%
• Ireland – 4\%
• Sweden – 7\%
• United Kingdom – 8\%
• New Zealand – 10\%
• Netherlands – 12\%
• Norway – 12\%
• Niger – 13\%

Why is lactose intolerance so common?

Primary lactose intolerance — the most common type — is caused by a decrease in lactase production with age. As such, you lose the ability to absorb lactose over time ( 1 , 3 ). This form of lactose intolerance may be partially genetic since it’s more common in some populations than others.

Does Amul milk contain lactose?

This milk is packed aseptically to give Amul Lactose Free Milk. Hence Amul Lactose Free Milk is the same milk we consume but devoid of lactose. Amul Lactose Free Milk is first of its kind in India.

Does Amul cheese have lactose?

The Amul Lactose Free Milk contains less than 0.1\% of lactose but doesn’t cut down on vitamins, calcium and protein so that it is digested easily without any tummy troubles. It contains no added sugar and is a vegan product that is free of lactose and soy protein as well.

What is the incidence of lactose intolerance in India?

Lactose intolerance in North and South Indians A multicenter study was carried out in India to determine the incidence of lactose intolerance in healthy volunteers from different parts of the country. The incidence was found to be 66.6\% in the subjects from two South Indian centers at Trivandrum and Pondicherry. In contrast, the incidence in the …

What is lactose intolerance and how is it treated?

Lactose intolerance is a condition in which some persons have digestive symptoms such as bloating, flatulence and diarrhea after consumption of foods and drinks that contain lactose. Lactose is a sugar that is naturally found in milk and milk products (such as cheese or ice cream).

Why is there an east/west dairy disparity in India?

At one level, the east/west dairy disparity in India is easily explained on a genetic basis. In northwestern India, the vast majority of people are lactose tolerant, and hence can drink milk without digestive problems into adulthood. In eastern India, on the other hand, most adults are lactose intolerant.

How common is the -13910t mutation in India?

“To our surprise we found that the -13910T mutation was also common in India – especially in those populations with a tradition of milk drinking,” added Toomas Kivisild, a senior author of the study.