Research

Mixed

Consuming raw milk does not reduce lactose malabsorption or lactose intolerance symptoms compared to pasteurized milk in adults with confirmed lactose malabsorption.

If you have confirmed lactose malabsorption, switching to raw milk will not help you digest lactose better than regular pasteurized milk. The lactose content is identical, and your body will process it similarly. You are better off sticking to pasteurized milk or lactose-free options to avoid the health risks of raw milk without gaining any digestive benefit.

ModerateRefutesMEDIUM confidence
Raw milk failed to reduce lactose malabsorption or lactose intolerance symptoms compared with pasteurized milk among adults positive for lactose malabsorption.
Sarah Ann Mummah et al. · The Annals of Family Medicine · 2014

Why this rating

Randomized controlled crossover design, but small sample size (n=16) and short duration (8 days per phase).

Source

Effect of Raw Milk on Lactose Intolerance: A Randomized Controlled Pilot Study

Sarah Ann Mummah et al. · The Annals of Family Medicine · 2014

DOI 10.1370/afm.1618

crossover · n=16Cited 37×
Read the paper
DOI resolved against Crossref · corpus check 2026-06-10

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