Frequently Asked Questions
July 2007
By Althea Zanecosky, MS, RD, LDN
Mid-Atlantic Dairy Association
Q: I have lactose intolerance and was advised by friends to switch to goat’s milk. I’ve also heard that other milks can be substitutes for cow’s milk. Can these products help my milk allergy?
A: Lactose is a sugar (carbohydrate) found naturally in milk. Lactose intolerance is caused by a shortage of the enzyme lactase, which is needed to break down lactose so it can be absorbed into the bloodstream. When someone doesn’t have enough of this enzyme, lactose isn’t absorbed properly from the digestive system and can cause symptoms such as bloating and diarrhea.
Milk from all mammals including cows, goats, sheep and humans contains lactose. The following chart compares the nutrients in various milks. The amount of lactose is very similar in cows, goats and sheep. This means that goats’ milk isn’t a suitable alternative to cows’ milk for people who are intolerant to lactose.Milk Composition Analysis per 100 grams:
| Nutrient | Unit | Cow | Goat | Sheep |
| Water | gm | 87.8 | 88.9 | 83.0 |
| Protein | gm | 3.2 | 3.1 | 5.4 |
| Fat | gm | 3.9 | 3.5 | 6.0 |
| Carbohydrate | gm | 4.8 | 4.4 | 5.1 |
| Energy | gm | 66 | 60 | 95 |
| Sugars (Lactose) | gm | 4.8 | 4.4 | 5.1 |
| Fatty Acids: | ||||
| Saturated | gm | 2.4 | 2.3 | 3.8 |
| Mono-Saturated | gm | 1.1 | 0.8 | 1.5 |
| Polyunsaturated | gm | 0.1 | 0.1 | 0.3 |
| Cholesterol | gm | 14 | 10 | 11 |
| Calcium | gm | 120 | 100 | 170 |
Source: McCane, Widdowson, Scherz, Kloos. International Laboratory Services
It’s important to note that lactose intolerance is not the same as a dairy allergy. Allergies are reactions to proteins, and a cows’ milk allergy is caused by a reaction to two milk proteins, casein and whey. Casein is the curd that forms when milk sours, and whey is the watery part that is left when the curd is removed.
Milk from other mammals (such as goats and sheep) is sometimes thought to be a possible substitute for those with cows’ milk allergy. However, the allergens (proteins) in milk from goats and sheep are very similar to those in cows’ milk. This means that someone with a cows’ milk allergy might react to these other types of milk as well; so goat and sheep milk aren’t suitable alternatives for people who are sensitive to cows’ milk. See your physician for allergy testing if you suspect a milk allergy.
National Dairy Council has tips on ways those with lactose intolerance can incorporate dairy in their diet:
http://www.nationaldairycouncil.org/NationalDairyCouncil/Nutrition/Lactose/index.htm
For more information about lactose intolerance, visit http://digestive.niddk.nih.gov/ddiseases/pubs/lactoseintolerance/.
For more information about food allergies, visit http://www.foodallergy.org/.Do you have a dairy nutrition question you would like to see answered in a future FAQ column?
If so, please forward your question to us. We can’t guarantee that all questions will be addressed, but we will do our best.