Statistics on Lactose Intolerance in Koreans Needing Improvement Due to Dietary Changes

- Lactose in Milk Consumption Among Koreans Is Not Strongly Related to Diarrhea Occurrence

Some people experience stomach pain specifically after drinking milk, and most of them are likely lactose intolerant. People who lack the enzyme lactase, which breaks down lactose found in milk, may suffer from stomach pain or diarrhea after consuming milk.

While lactose intolerance is rarely seen in Europe or North America, it has been reported to be particularly common among Asians. The degree of lactose intolerance varies depending on ethnicity.

Meanwhile, it is known that about 75% of Koreans have lactose intolerance, and the prevalence among elementary school students is reported to be relatively low.

According to a 2011 study by Professor Yoon Sung-sik’s team at Yonsei University titled “Measurement of Lactose Digestion Rate and Incidence of Lactose Intolerance in Korean Children (School Age) According to Dairy Product Consumption,” clinical assessment showed that only 154 out of 636 elementary school students (24.2%) suffered from lactose intolerance.

Additionally, the prevalence of lactose intolerance by gender among school-age children was 25% for boys and 23.1% for girls, which is significantly lower than the 1994 study “Research on Lactose Malabsorption in Koreans,” where adult males showed 80% and adult females 73.3% lactose malabsorption rates. This difference is interpreted as being influenced by increased opportunities to consume milk due to economic growth and the westernization of food culture. Domestic experts have suggested the need to update statistics considering these changed dietary patterns.

In fact, a 2006 study by the Japan Dairy Industry Association titled “Study on Lactose Intake and Incidence of Diarrhea” measured diarrhea occurrence after administering lactose in 10g increments from 30g to 60g to healthy individuals without gastrointestinal disorders or symptoms of diarrhea or constipation. The results showed no diarrhea at 30g, but diarrhea occurred in 11% at 40g, 39% at 50g, and 55% at 60g. Considering this, since the typical daily milk consumption in Korea is less than 500ml, which corresponds to less than about 25g of lactose, the lactose in milk is not strongly associated with causing diarrhea.

However, some argue that since 75% of Koreans are lactose intolerant and experience discomfort after drinking milk, they should drink plant-based milk instead of regular milk.

Regarding this, Professor Kim Hyung-mi of the Department of Food and Nutrition at Dongduk Women’s University stated, “Plant-based beverages may help obese individuals due to their lower calorie content, but they cannot replace milk,” and added, “Milk is the easiest food to obtain protein and calcium.”

She further explained, “Plant-based beverages have lower calcium content than milk,” and “Since 7 out of 10 Koreans consume less calcium than the average required amount, it is not recommended to replace milk with plant-based beverages.”

Milk contains essential nutrients beneficial to the body, such as protein, fat, calcium, potassium, phosphorus, vitamins A and D, and riboflavin. According to the Ministry of Food and Drug Safety, the recommended daily calcium intake for adults in Korea is 700mg, and one glass of milk can provide about 200mg of calcium. Therefore, it is recommended that even people with lactose intolerance continue to consume milk regularly.

In response, the Milk Industry Promotion Committee stated, “Milk consumption has beneficial effects on bones, and it is necessary to drink milk consistently for balanced nutrient intake even after the growth period,” and added, “If it is difficult to drink milk due to lactose intolerance, it is recommended to use it in cooking or to drink it warmed.”