Lactose malabsorption in Thai infants and children: effect of prolonged milk feeding.

More than one-third of Thai infants were lactose malabsorbers soon after birth and the percentage of lactose malabsorption increased with age. Beyond 4 years of age, all Thai children studied were lactose malabsorbers. Continued milk supplementation over the study period did not affect the ability to digest lactose in the amount given in the load test. Since the milk-supplemented group of children tended to have better weight gain and few undesirable gastrointestinal symptoms, it seems milk feedings can be used to advantage even among populations with a record of high lactose intolerance.