Effects of Lactose-free Dairy Products on Athletes With Irritable Bowel Syndrome

Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS) is a gastrointestinal disorder defined by recurrent abdominal pain, bloating, abdominal distention and altered bowel habits. IBS is common among athletes and can impair performance. IBS was found to be prevalent in 9.8% (n=430) of endurance athletes. The condition is associated with significantly reduced quality of life. IBS patients often attribute their gastrointestinal effects to lactose intolerance (LI) and may avoid/limit intake of dairy products. As LI and IBS share similar symptoms, IBS patients may wrongly attribute lactose intolerance as one of the causative factors and avoid dairy products altogether. Self-imposed reductions in consumption of dairy products could reduce calcium intake leading to reduced bone mineral density. This study aims to determine the prevalence of lactose malabsorption among athletes suffering from IBS and the potential of lactose free probiotics dairy products in alleviating gastrointestinal symptoms. The inclusion of probiotics dairy products in patients' diet will be beneficial in the long term to ensure adequate intake of calcium.