Milk tolerance in adults with ulcerative colitis

Objectives: There has been concern in the literature and among physicians and patients that milk intolerance may contribute to disease activity in ulcerative colitis. We sought to define whether patients with ulcerative colitis have problems with milk tolerance. Methods: 1) A questionnaire was administered to a group of gastroenterologists. 2) Consecutive unselected ulcerative colitis patients were administered a questionnaire regarding issues concerning their ingestion and tolerance of milk products. 3) Patients, and age- and ethnically matched controls, underwent lactose hydrogen breath testing at a 50-g dose, and if intolerant, returned for testing at a 12.5-g dose