Probiotics for Lactose Intolerance – why most probiotics don’t offer any real benefits A number of studies have investigated the potential benefits of probiotics for lactose intolerance, a condition that is thought to affect around 65 percent of the human population who have a reduced ability to digest lactose after infancy. Lactose intolerance in adulthood is most prevalent in people of East Asian descent, affecting more than 90 percent of adults in some of these communities. Symptoms of lactose intolerance can range from mild digestive discomfort to severe abdominal pain, bloating, gas and flatulence and diarrhoea. These symptoms are a result of undigested lactase (the sugar in milk) passing into the colon where it can then feed undesirable bacteria. This leads to increased production of hydrogen (and, sometimes, methane), which can cause flatulence. The lactose that remains undigested draws water into the colon, resulting in loose, watery stools (diarrhoea). In addition to the direct symptoms of lactose intolerance, the condition can compromise the absorption of other nutrients.   While many people with lactose intolerance switch to a dairy-free diet or choose to drink lactose-free milk, it may be that taking a high-quality probiotic supplement can help eliminate symptoms and improve overall digestive health. This is because many beneficial bacteria are able to split the lactose molecule, allowing the resulting glucose and galactose to be absorbed normally through the intestinal wall. Even where beneficial bacteria do not increase lactose digestion, they may help counteract the negative effects of undigested lactose in the colon, decreasing symptoms of lactose intolerance. However, many people who take probiotic supplements experience little benefit because the majority of probiotics that are said to be stable at room temperature, are still not guaranteed to contain live organisms right up to the date of expiry. The bacteria have to survive the manufacturing process, storage and shipping, and the acidic environment of the stomach in order to actually have any benefit for conditions such as lactose intolerance. Natren products are different. Unlike other probiotics, Natren keep the live bacteria in their original culturing medium, or supernatant, guaranteeing the best environment for the beneficial bacteria so that they can have a greater impact on health once ingested. Additionally, the probiotics are manufactured using the Trenev Process^®, cutting edge technology that ensures unmatched survivability and stability of the live bacteria. The Trenev Process uses an oil-matrix system to micro-enrobe beneficial bacteria to keep them separated, non-competitive and virtually 100% protected from the stomach’s gastric juices. Natren’s customers can rest assured that the beneficial bacteria produced by Natren have a guaranteed potency that has been verified by laboratory testing audited by a third party. One of Natren’s bestselling products, Megadophilus^®, helps enhance digestion of dairy products by assisting lactose metabolism. The beneficial bacteria in this product not only help increase the production of lactase, the enzyme needed to break down lactose, they also have numerous other benefits for digestive health. Lifestyle Vitamins are proud to be an approved distributor of Natren^® unique and powerful beneficial bacteria, working with Natren to guarantee that orders arrive correctly chilled so as to ensure potency right up to the point of delivery.