Some studies report that patients suffering from IBD have increased rates of lactase non-persistence (LNP). Many patients voluntarily choose to remove dairy foods from their diets after being diagnosed in an effort to combat some of the symptoms. Additionally, since the symptoms of LNP and IBD are similar, it is important to find, through elimination, if either the disease or the LNP status of the individual exacerbates their symptoms (Shrier, 2008). However, it is important to note that there is an epidemiological and pathogenetic link between both forms of IBD and colorectal cancer, and studies have shown that calcium and dairy food intake were actually inversely related to the risk for colon cancer, thereby supporting the benefits of a diet including dairy foods.1
Some studies report that patients suffering from IBD have increased rates of lactase non-persistence (LNP). Many patients voluntarily choose to remove dairy foods from their diets after being diagnosed in an effort to combat some of the symptoms. Additionally, since the symptoms of LNP and IBD are similar, it is important to find, through elimination, if either the disease or the LNP status of the individual exacerbates their symptoms (Shrier, 2008). However, it is important to note that there is an epidemiological and pathogenetic link between both forms of IBD and colorectal cancer, and studies have shown that calcium and dairy food intake were actually inversely related to the risk for colon cancer, thereby supporting the benefits of a diet including dairy foods.1
