
                         Roanoke Times
                 Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: THURSDAY, July 6, 1995                   TAG: 9507060075
SECTION: NATIONAL/INTERNATIONAL                    PAGE: A-5   EDITION: METRO 
SOURCE: Associated Press
DATELINE: BOSTON                                LENGTH: Short

LACTOSE INTOLERANCE GREATLY EXAGGERATED

Can a single glass of milk cause gas, cramps and bloating? Millions of Americans think so, but a new study of lactose intolerance concludes they're wrong.

``The final result is, there is virtually nobody out there who cannot tolerate a glass of milk a day,'' said Dr. Michael D. Levitt, the study's senior author.

Those who blame milk for their digestive ills are likely to be surprised and dubious. About one-quarter of people in the United States, and three-quarters worldwide, are lactose intolerant. They lack an enzyme that allows them to digest lactose, the sugar in milk.

Drinking large amounts of milk, such as a liter at one sitting, will almost certainly cause intestinal misery for these people. But many claim tiny amounts cause problems. They say they cannot even put milk on cereal or in coffee.

Why do people blame their cramps and gas on milk? Levitt said one reason may simply be the pervasiveness of news stories about lactose intolerance and advertising for products to counteract the problem.

by CNB