Lactose intolerance

Babies with lactose intolerance have difficulty digesting lactose, a natural disaccharide sugar found in milk. They may have a reduced level of the enzyme lactase, which breaks down the lactose in milk to glucose and galactose. Undigested lactose remains in the intestine and this can cause diarrhoea, bloating, abdominal pain, colic, wind and possible nausea or constipation.²⁵ Lactose intolerance can also occur temporarily after gastroenteritis.²⁵

Lactose intolerance can be genetic and is more common in people of Asian and Afro-Caribbean descent in the UK.²⁵

• Babies with lactose intolerance may be prescribed a lactose-free infant milk such as SMA LF^®
• SMA LF^® is a lactose-free infant milk for babies who are lactose intolerant, or who are experiencing symptoms such as diarrhoea, tummy ache or wind caused by temporary lactose intolerance. It is not suitable for infants with galactosaemia
• SMA LF^® is nutritionally complete^* and suitable as the sole source of nutrition for infants from birth. For older babies, it can be used as part of a mixed diet.

^*Nutritionally complete as required by the legislation for all infant formula