Live cultures and lactose intolerance
All of the Optibac range is suitable for those with lactose intolerance. Lactose intolerance is the inability to digest significant amounts of lactose. Lactose is the predominant natural sugar found in milk and dairy products. Lactose intolerance usually results from a shortage of the enzyme lactase, which breaks down lactose into simpler forms that can then be absorbed into the bloodstream.
Can you take live cultures if you have a dairy allergy?
We do not recommend taking live cultures that contain dairy if you have a severe dairy allergy, however, they are fine to use if you are lactose intolerant.
Those with a severe dairy allergy should be aware that some of our live cultures are not guaranteed to be entirely dairy-free. The strains in some of our supplements are cultured on a base of organic dairy and soy. This is then skimmed off, but traces of the dairy may potentially remain.
Dairy-free live cultures
Many, but not all, of our live cultures, are suitable for people with a dairy allergy. This is because some live culture strains are cultured on a base medium containing dairy and although they are separated from any medium before they are put into sachets or encapsulated, there may still be a small chance that the final product will contain a tiny amount of residual dairy. We, therefore, recommend the entire range for individuals who are lactose intolerant, but not necessarily those with a severe dairy allergy or who follow a strict vegan diet.
Optibac non-dairy live cultures
The following supplements are completely dairy free and suitable for those who are following a non-dairy diet:
If you are vegan please head to our shop to discover which Optibac Probiotics supplements are suitable for vegans.
If you have any further questions we are always happy to help.
Health professionals can head over to the Probiotic Professionals site to learn more about live cultures and lactose intolerance.