OMDAIRY PURE

Does A2 Milk Contain Lactose? Is It Suitable for Folks Who Are Lactose Intolerant? 

Milk is often hailed as a proper, all-round good food, but for a fair few people, drinking it can lead to a bit of a rummage in the tummy – you know, bloating, cramps, or even the runs. This is usually put down to lactose intolerance, a condition where the body finds it tricky to digest lactose, which is the natural sugar in milk. 

With A2 milk becoming all the rage, a lot of people are asking: 

Does A2 milk actually have lactose in it? And can people who are lactose intolerant drink A2 milk without any bother? 

Let’s have a proper look at the answers and help you make a sensible choice. 

What Exactly Is Lactose? 

Lactose is a type of natural sugar that you find in milk and things made from milk. It’s a disaccharide, which is just a fancy way of saying it’s made up of two simpler sugars stuck together: 

• Glucose 

• Galactose 

To digest lactose, our bodies use a special helper called an enzyme, which is like a tiny worker, called lactase. This lactase breaks down the lactose into those simpler sugars so they can be absorbed in our small intestine. 

What’s the Deal with Lactose Intolerance? 

Lactose intolerance is a digestive issue that happens when your body doesn’t produce enough of that lactase enzyme. When the lactose isn’t properly digested, it travels down to the colon, where the bacteria in your gut have a bit of a feast on it. This fermentation process produces things that cause those nasty symptoms like: 

• Bloating (feeling all puffed up) 

• Gas (lots of trumping!) 

• Diarrhoea (the runs) 

• Stomach cramps (ouch!) 

According to the National Institutes of Health, a whopping 65% of people around the world have some level of lactose intolerance after they’re past being a baby (NIH, n.d.). 

In India, especially amongst adults, lactose intolerance is quite common, although how bad it is can vary from person to person. 

Reference: 

• NIH – Lactose Intolerance Overview (n.d.). National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases. Retrieved from  

So, Does A2 Milk Contain Lactose Then? 

Yes, plain and simple, A2 milk does contain lactose. 

This is where a lot of people get a bit muddled. Many assume that A2 milk is lactose-free – but that’s not the case at all. 

The difference between A2 and regular milk lies in the type of protein it contains, not the amount of sugar. 

• Both A1 and A2 milk contain lactose. 

• A2 milk is special because it only has the A2 type of beta-casein protein. 

• Regular milk (from cows like Jersey and Holstein) has a mix of both A1 and A2 proteins. 

So, while the lactose content is the same, the way A2 milk behaves in your gut can be different, especially for those who think they might be lactose intolerant. 

The A1 Protein’s Link to Tummy Trouble 

A lot of people who reckon they’re lactose intolerant might actually be reacting to the A1 beta-casein protein instead. 

When milk with A1 protein is digested, it produces a little bit of protein called BCM-7 (beta-casomorphin-7), which can: 

• Slow down your digestion (make your food move through slower). 

• Cause inflammation in your gut (making it a bit sore and irritated). 

• Lead to symptoms that are a lot like IBS (irritable bowel syndrome). 

Now, A2 milk, which comes from traditional breeds like the Gir cow, doesn’t release this BCM-7. This often means fewer digestive problems, even though the lactose is still there. 

Reference: 

• Nutrition Journal (2016) – A study showed that people who drank A2 milk had less digestive discomfort compared to those who drank regular milk (Jianqin et al., 2016). 

Scientific Studies: Can People with Lactose Intolerance Drink A2 Milk? 

Let’s look at some of the proper research that’s been done: 

1. The Chinese Study on People Who Thought They Were Lactose Intolerant

• They studied 45 people who said they had symptoms of lactose intolerance. 

• One group drank regular milk, and the other group drank A2 milk. 

• Even though both types of milk had the same amount of lactose, the people drinking A2 milk had significantly fewer of those nasty symptoms. 

Reference: Jianqin, S., Leiming, X., Lu, X., Yelland, G. W., Ni, J., & Clarke, A. J. (2016). Effects of milk containing only A2 beta-casein versus milk containing both A1 and A2 beta-casein on digestive comfort, stool consistency, and transit time: a randomised, double-blind, cross-over trial. Nutrition Journal, 15(1), 35.    

2. The New Zealand Clinical Trial

• This study focused on how people’s bodies reacted to A1 versus A2 protein. 

• The trial concluded that the A1 protein might actually make the symptoms of lactose intolerance worse by affecting how your gut works. 

• A2 milk was found to be easier to tolerate, even by people who had been diagnosed with lactose intolerance (Ho et al., 2014). 

Reference: Ho, S., Woodford, K., Kukuljan, S., & Pal, S. (2014). Comparative effects of A1 versus A2 beta-casein on gastrointestinal discomfort: a blinded randomised cross-over trial. European Journal of Clinical Nutrition, 68(9), 994-1000. 

Why Can Some Lactose-Intolerant Folks Handle A2 Milk? 

Even though A2 milk does contain lactose, here’s why some people who are lactose intolerant can still drink it without too much trouble: 

• No BCM-7 Protein Bit: A2 milk doesn’t release that BCM-7 during digestion, which seems to reduce gut inflammation and other upsets. 

• Less Stress on the Gut: Because the A2 protein is often digested more smoothly, it puts less strain on your digestive system, and the symptoms might not be as severe. 

• Better Gut Bacteria: Some clever researchers think that A2 milk might not mess with the good bacteria in your gut as much as regular milk, which could help with digesting lactose. 

How to See If A2 Milk Works for Your Lactose Sensitivity 

If you think you might be lactose intolerant but you’re still keen to try A2 milk, here’s a sensible way to go about it: 

Step 1: Start Small: Try a small amount, maybe 50-100 ml of A2 milk with some food. 

Step 2: Keep an Eye Out: See if you get any bloating, cramps, or diarrhoea in the next 6 to 12 hours. 

Step 3: Increase Slowly: If you don’t have any problems, gradually increase how much you’re drinking. 

Step 4: Compare with Regular Milk: After a few days, try drinking the same amount of regular milk and see if you notice a difference. 

Lots of people find that they can handle A2 milk much better and that they might not be as lactose intolerant as they first thought. 

Who Should Still Give A2 Milk a Miss? 

Although A2 milk is often easier to digest, there are some people who should still be careful: 

• Those with diagnosed galactosemia: This is a rare condition where the body can’t process galactose, one of the sugars that lactose breaks down into. 

• People with severe or confirmed lactose intolerance: Especially if it’s been confirmed by a hydrogen breath test, which is a specific test for lactose intolerance. 

• Vegans or those who choose not to have any dairy at all. 

For these groups, lactose-free or plant-based alternatives are still the safest bet. 

The OMDAIRY PURE Promise: A2/A2 Gir Cow Milk 

At OMDAIRY PURE, we only get our milk from certified A2/A2 Gir cows, which are: 

• Looked after properly (ethically raised). 

• Eat grass (grass-fed). 

• Don’t get any dodgy hormone injections or antibiotics. 

We make sure: 

• There’s absolutely no messing about with it (zero adulteration). 

• No artificial preservatives or chemical treatments. 

• Fresh delivery every day in clean glass bottles. 

While our milk does naturally contain lactose, many of our customers who have mild to moderate lactose intolerance have told us they have no symptoms and find it much easier to digest. 

Summary: Should You Give A2 Milk a Go? 

Final Thoughts 

While A2 milk does contain lactose, a lot of people who get symptoms from regular milk find that they can enjoy A2 milk without any bother. 

The key difference seems to be the type of protein, not just the sugar. By choosing A2 milk, you might be choosing a product that works better with your body. 

References: 

• Ho, S., Woodford, K., Kukuljan, S., & Pal, S. (2014). Comparative effects of A1 versus A2 beta-casein on gastrointestinal discomfort: a blinded randomised cross-over trial. European Journal of Clinical Nutrition, 68(9), 994-1000. 

• Jianqin, S., Leiming, X., Lu, X., Yelland, G. W., Ni, J., & Clarke, A. J. (2016). Effects of milk containing only A2 beta-casein versus milk containing both A1 and A2 beta-casein on digestive comfort, stool consistency, and transit time: a randomised, double-blind, cross-over trial. Nutrition Journal, 15(1), 35.    

• National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases. (n.d.). Lactose Intolerance. Retrieved from