Does lactase help with dairy and lactose intolerance?
Lactase products can help some people manage symptoms when consuming lactose. NIDDK describes tablets or drops as one management option alongside adjusting lactose intake; they do not cure the underlying cause or treat a milk protein allergy.
Quick answer
Best suited for
- Lactose intolerance symptoms from dairy — gas, bloating, cramping, or diarrhea after milk, cheese, or other lactose-containing foods.
- People with lactose-related symptoms whose need and precautions have been discussed with a clinician.
It is unlikely to help with
- A general digestion or bloating aid unrelated to lactose — there's limited evidence for broader claims sometimes attached to combination products.
- A cure for lactase deficiency — it manages symptoms while you eat dairy, it doesn't restore the body's own lactase production.
- Persistent symptoms that don't improve with lactase, or symptoms that come with weight loss or greasy stools — that pattern can point to a different cause.
What to compare on the label
- Activity unit — Look for ALU (Acid Lactase Unit) at the labeled serving size — not just milligrams.
- Single-enzyme vs. blend — A lactase-only label is easier to interpret for a lactose-specific question; this does not establish the best dose or guarantee symptom relief.
- Timing — Taken with or just before the lactose-containing food, not on a fixed daily schedule.
Where to find it
Microbiome Plus+ — Pro Digestive Enzyme Blend
Microbiome Plus+ Pro Digestive Enzyme Blend is a multi-ingredient capsule rather than a lactase-only product. Its current manufacturer label (serving size: one veggie capsule) lists fungal lactase at 600 LACU, together with a protease and Lactobacillus blend, bromelain, papain, fungal lipase and alpha-galactosidase. The three Lactobacillus species are probiotic bacteria, not enzymes. The label gives lactase in LACU, while some other labels use ALU (FCC); we have not verified a conversion, so numbers should not be compared across units. It is not evidence that this product helps with lactose intolerance. This is label information, not our laboratory testing. It is not a substitute for prescription pancreatic enzyme therapy; check the manufacturer's page for current directions, cautions and price.
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Also available on Amazon
Nature's Way — Nature's Way Lactose Defense (Lactase Enzyme)
The manufacturer’s US label declares 10,350 ALU in a three-capsule serving, with lactase as the declared enzyme. The capsule contains gelatin. This is label information, not our laboratory testing or a claim that the serving is best for an individual; consult the current directions and precautions.
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How lactose intolerance works
Lactose intolerance happens when the small intestine doesn't produce enough lactase — the enzyme that breaks lactose (milk sugar) into simpler sugars the body can absorb. Undigested lactose passes into the colon, where gut bacteria ferment it, producing gas, bloating, cramping, and diarrhea.
Reduced lactase production after infancy is common, but not everyone with lactose malabsorption develops symptoms. Lactase deficiency can also have secondary, congenital or developmental causes.
What the NIDDK guidance says
NIDDK's patient guidance describes lactase products as an option some people use to help manage symptoms when consuming dairy, alongside other management approaches like adjusting dairy intake or choosing lower-lactose products. It is described as an aid for managing lactose intolerance symptoms, not a cure for the underlying enzyme deficiency.
Where the evidence has limits
Individual response varies — dose needed depends on how much lactase a person still produces and how much lactose is consumed.
Lactase supplements address lactose specifically. They are not a general digestive aid, and there's limited evidence supporting broader digestion or bloating claims sometimes attached to combination products.
- Persistent symptoms that don't improve with lactase, or symptoms with weight loss or greasy stools, need medical evaluation rather than more supplementation — a different mechanism such as exocrine pancreatic insufficiency could be involved.
- Lactose intolerance is not the same as a milk protein allergy. An allergy involves the immune system and can be serious; lactase supplements do not treat a milk allergy.
- NIDDK advises checking with a doctor before lactase use; young children and pregnant or breastfeeding people may need particular precautions.
Sources: NIDDK — Treatment for Lactose Intolerance; NIDDK — Definition & Facts for Lactose Intolerance; NIDDK — Lactose Intolerance Symptoms & Causes. Last reviewed: July 28, 2026.