OBJECTIVETo find out the diet measurements for alleviating symptoms of lactose intolerance when people had had a drink of milk.

METHODSEight lactose intolerance (LI) subjects suffering from watery diarrhea were selected from 38 subjects by using hydrogen breath test (HBT) joined the test of drinking cow's milk along with various other foods designed by orthogonal trial. The 100 healthy college students were selected to observe symptoms after they ingested 25 g milk powder in different manners.

RESULTSThe breath-hydrogen concentration in groups with ingesting milk and various other foods was lower than those with ingesting milk only. Egg was better than mantou in alleviating symptoms. (F vaule of stool lactose and symptom score were 7.5, 9.0, respectively, P < 0.05). Whole wheat bread might aggravate flatus. The prevalence of the symptom in 100 college students by drinking milk in fasting state (27/98) was significant in comparing with those drinking milk in regular meal (13/98), chi2 = 6. 156, P < 0. 05.

CONCLUSIONThe study demonstrated that different kinds of food, and different milk drinking manners should affect the intolerance symptoms. We suggested: should not drink milk in fasting state, and drinking milk together with egg and staple food such as steamed bread, bread or gomuti should be the best choice for breakfast. Drinking milk with regular manner might alleviate the symptoms of intolerance. For avoiding lactose intolerance, whole wheat bread should not be taken along with milk.