Comparison of the Effectiveness of Lactaid Regular versus Lactaid Extra Strength versus Life Regular in Breaking down Lactose

Abstract

This study aimed to determine the effectiveness of different lactase supplements in breaking down lactose. The hypothesis was that fast-acting lactase supplements would have a higher reaction rate than regular lactase supplements, assuming the same concentration of lactase. Three different lactase supplements were tested, including two from Lactaid® and one from Life, with the same lactase concentration of 18,000 food chemical codex (FCC). Glucose concentrations were measured over 20 minutes using a glucose meter to determine the rate of lactose breakdown. No observable differences were found between the measured glucose concentrations across all three lactase supplement brands, suggesting that the labels on lactase supplements can be misleading. This study provides insights into the efficacy of different lactase supplements, which can improve the quality of life for those with lactose intolerance.