Lactose Monohydrate: Uses, Side Effects, and More

In the food and pharmaceutical industries, lactose monohydrate has a wide range of applications. Long shelf life and ease of combining with other substances are key benefits of lactose monohydrate.

Additionally, because of its sweet flavor, it has a broad range of applications. Here are some applications of lactose monohydrate:

1. Pharmaceutical industry: Lactose monohydrate is used as a filler in the pharmaceutical industry for oral medications. It is a perfect constituent as a diluent powder for dry powder inhalation. Most medications, including birth control pills, calcium supplements, and drugs for treating gastrointestinal conditions, typically contain lactose in some form.
2. Infant formula: Lactose monohydrate is a dietary ingredient that can be added to infant formulas. Due to its mild sweetness, it can be used as a sweetener.
3. Food and beverage: Due to its stabilizing and sweetening qualities, lactose monohydrate is present in a wide variety of foods, including frozen meals, soups, sauces, packaged goods, and cakes.
4. Animal feed: Lactose monohydrate is typically added to animal feed for commercial purposes. In this way, food volume and weight can be increased at a low cost.

If you have lactose intolerance or any other symptoms from dairy products, you must be aware of the uses of lactose monohydrate in packaged meals and other items you consume. 

According to the Mayo Clinic, individuals who have lactose intolerance are unable to adequately digest the sugar (lactose) in milk, which can result in diarrhea, gas, and bloating after consuming dairy products. A common cause of lactose intolerance is a deficiency in the production of lactase (the enzyme that digests lactose) by your body.

• Bloating: According to Johns Hopkins Medicine, bloating caused by lactose intolerance can occur 30 minutes to two hours after consuming lactose-containing meals or beverages, such as lactose monohydrates. The amount of food you've consumed and the amount of lactase your body produces will determine the severity of bloating. Although bloating is unpleasant, lactose intolerance is not an allergy. According to the FDA, you must completely avoid foods that cause your body to react abnormally, such as milk, when you have a food allergy because this can be fatal.
• Gas: The FDA states that in addition to other symptoms, gas can occur if your body doesn't produce enough lactase to digest lactose. The easiest approach to prevent gas from lactose monohydrate is to adjust your diet, just like with other symptoms such as bloating or diarrhea. According to Johns Hopkins Medicine, physicians now advise trying different dairy products to see which ones cause fewer symptoms although people with lactose intolerance were originally advised to completely avoid dairy products. You could still be able to handle dairy meals such as yogurt even if you respond negatively to goods that contain lactose monohydrate. Several health food stores carry milk products that are lactose-free or lactose-reduced.
• Diarrhea: According to Mount Sinai, if you have a lactose sensitivity, loose stools or diarrhea may occur after eating milk products such as lactose monohydrate. Such symptoms could also be brought on by other intestinal conditions, such as irritable bowel syndrome. With tests such as a lactose-hydrogen breath test, lactose tolerance test, or stool pH test, your doctor can determine if you have lactose intolerance.

You might be able to tolerate some lactose even if your lactase level is low. For instance, most individuals with low lactase levels can consume up to half a cup of milk at a time without experiencing any negative effects.

There are a few best practices for addressing your symptoms if you do get diarrhea because of lactose monohydrate. The Cleveland Clinic recommends consuming plenty of water and electrolyte-balanced fluids to manage acute diarrhea and avoid dehydration. Stay away from dairy products and foods containing caffeine until your diarrhea has decreased.