Lactose intolerance is a condition where people are unable to eat dairy due to a deficiency of the enzyme lactase, causing the lactose in milk to not digest properly and causing uncomfortable gastrointestinal symptoms. Symptoms can range from mild to severe depending on a person’s age, ethnicity and the amount of lactase their body produces. For some it may simply mean an adjustment in the type and amount of dairy they consume, while for others it may mean doing without dairy products entirely.

For most individuals the symptoms lactose intolerance will not be severe enough to have caused vitamin deficiencies nor will they need to reduce dairy intake enough to cause issues with their calcium intake but for those with severe lactose intolerance, supplementation with extra vitamins may be necessary to make sure you are getting proper nutrition.

The most important supplement for you to be concerned with of course is calcium, because your diet is restricted in dairy products chances are good that you may not be getting enough of this very important nutrient. Taking 500 – 1000 milligrams of calcium a day should be enough for anybody including post menopausal women. Calcium is essential for strong bones and will help to prevent osteoporosis.

The other vitamin you may not be getting enough of is Vitamin D, which is usually supplemented in the milk you drink, but if you are not drinking milk you may not be getting enough. Vitamin D deficiency is associated with muscle problems, heart disease, a loss of mental acuity, and fertility problems. Adults need a minimum of 400 international units per day.

If your lactose intolerance that is a secondary condition to another disease such as celiac disease you will need to ask your doctor to do blood test to check your vitamin B and iron levels as they may also be low.

Most people will benefit from a general multi-vitamin and if your lactose intolerance has been untreated for some time it is possible that the intestinal distress caused by chronic diarrhea may leave you vitamin deficient, in such cases a good multi vitamin and removing the offending foods will quickly remedy the problem.