Lactase Enzyme: What It Does, When to Take It and How Much

Updated Oct 28, 2026 · 10 sources

A lactase enzyme splits lactose, the natural sugar in milk, into glucose and galactose, two simple sugars the body can absorb.¹ Lactase tablets taken before you eat or drink milk products break down the lactose in them, NIDDK says, and MedlinePlus calls lactase supplements widely used and effective.^2,3 About a cup of milk carries 12 grams of lactose.⁴

Key points

• Timing is simple: NIDDK says to take lactase tablets before eating or drinking milk products, or to add lactase drops to milk before you drink it.²
• Lactose differs widely by food: a 2019 review lists 4.7 g per 100 g in whole milk, 3.0 g in fresh yogurt and 0.1 g in hard cheese such as cheddar.¹
• Two Physician’s Choice formulas list lactase in their enzyme blends, Bloat + Gas Probiotic (See the label) and Digestive Enzymes (See the label); the agency lines above describe lactase products in general, not these two.^5,6

What does a lactase supplement do?

It adds the enzyme that splits lactose. NIDDK explains that a small intestine low on lactase can’t digest all the lactose it receives; the rest moves on to the colon, and bacteria there turn it into fluid and gas.⁷ Lactase products break down the lactose in foods and drinks, lowering the chance of symptoms, NIDDK says.²

NIDDK describes lactose intolerance as digestive symptoms, such as bloating and gas, after foods or drinks that contain lactose, caused by lactose malabsorption; not everyone with malabsorption gets symptoms.⁸ About 36 percent of people in the United States have lactose malabsorption, NIDDK says, and lactose intolerance differs from a milk allergy, which is an immune system disorder.⁸ Lactose intolerance is for a doctor to diagnose; the product lines on this page are about digesting the lactose in food.

When to take lactase?

Right before the first bite or sip of dairy. NIDDK says lactase tablets go in before you eat or drink milk products, while lactase drops are added to milk before drinking.² Health Canada’s monograph directs taking enzymes with, or immediately before, a meal, and its example directions tie lactase to each meal containing lactose.⁹ MedlinePlus notes that symptoms of lactose intolerance often begin 30 minutes to 2 hours after milk products.³

If you remember only once you are seated, our Journal’s piece on when to take digestive enzymes rates taking them with your first bite as a sensible routine.¹⁰ Per their product pages, Bloat + Gas Probiotic is one capsule daily and Digestive Enzymes is one capsule with your largest meal of the day.^5,6

How much lactase enzyme?

Lactase strength is counted in activity units. For lactase products licensed in Canada that claim to help digest lactose, Health Canada’s monograph sets 3,000 to 54,000 FCC ALU a day, with no more than 18,000 ALU in one dose.⁹ On the food side, NIDDK cites research that many people with lactose intolerance handle 12 grams of lactose, the amount in about a cup of milk, with mild symptoms at most.⁴

Our two labels name lactase inside an enzyme blend, 36 mg in Bloat + Gas Probiotic and 85 mg in Digestive Enzymes, and give that blend’s total weight rather than a lactase figure in ALU.^5,6 How activity units and blend weights differ: our guide to reading a digestive enzyme label.

Lactase in a digestive enzyme blend vs a lactase-only product: which fits?

Choose by the meal. A lactase-only product does one job, and it comes as tablets or drops, NIDDK says, or as capsules or chewable tablets, MedlinePlus adds.^2,3 A digestive enzyme blend puts lactase beside enzymes for other foods; our Digestive Enzymes blend, for example, lists it with proteases, lipase and amylase.⁶ That suits a plate where dairy is one part of the meal, such as cheese on pasta.

For beans and lentils, the matching enzyme is alpha-galactosidase, and our bloating-after-meals guide matches more foods to their enzymes.

Lactose in dairy foods: which have the most?

Milk and goat’s milk top the list per serving, with fresh yogurt and buttermilk next, while hard cheese and butter carry almost none, in the representative values a 2019 review lists below.¹ NIDDK adds that yogurt and hard cheeses such as cheddar or Swiss are lower in lactose than other milk products, and that lactose also turns up in baked goods, processed foods and processed meats.⁴

Which Physician’s Choice products contain lactase?

Two of our formulas list it. Bloat + Gas Probiotic carries lactase and alpha-galactosidase in a 36 mg Enzyme Blend, beside a 325 mg pre, pro and postbiotic blend and a 50 mg herbal blend, one capsule daily (See the label).⁵ Digestive Enzymes counts lactase among the 16 enzymes of its 85 mg Digestive Enzyme Blend, with 1 capsule at your largest meal of the day (See the label).⁶

For occasional gas and bloating after meals, choose a digestive enzyme that helps break down the food components that may be causing discomfort: lactase for lactose in dairy, or alpha-galactosidase for certain carbohydrates in foods like beans, lentils, broccoli, and cabbage.‡ Digestive Enzymes is a broad-spectrum blend designed to be taken with meals to help break down proteins, fats, dairy, and carbohydrates.‡ The Bloat + Gas Probiotic label reads: “Digestive enzymes to break down dairy and carbs”‡

Both labels list dairy among the ingredients they are formulated without, and note a facility that also processes dairy.^5,6 The NIDDK and MedlinePlus lines above describe lactase products in general, not these two formulas. Every lot of every product is tested for purity and potency at ISO/IEC 17025-accredited labs, the international standard for testing-lab competence.

Who should check with a doctor first

NIDDK advises checking with your doctor before using lactase products, since some people, such as young children and pregnant and breastfeeding women, may not be able to use them.²

If you are pregnant or breastfeeding, are seriously ill, or have a weakened immune system, consult your healthcare provider before taking a probiotic or any other dietary supplement.

Our Kids line includes a Kids Chewable Probiotic, Fiber Gummies, and a Probiotic + Fiber Powder. These are the only Physician’s Choice products we recommend for children under 18, and each should be used according to its labeled age range and directions. Always consult your child’s pediatrician or healthcare provider before starting a new supplement routine.

If you have known allergies, review the product’s ingredient list and allergen information and consult your healthcare provider before purchasing or using it. Most of our products are formulated without the top 9 common allergens, but ingredients vary by product.

If bloating is persistent, severe, or feels different than usual, talk with your healthcare provider.

Questions people ask

The short version

A lactase enzyme splits lactose into glucose and galactose, and it goes in just before dairy, as NIDDK advises. Physician’s Choice lists lactase in Bloat + Gas Probiotic and Digestive Enzymes.

Sources

1. Misselwitz B, Butter M, Verbeke K, Fox MR. Update on lactose malabsorption and intolerance: pathogenesis, diagnosis and clinical management. Gut, 2019;68(11):2080-2091.
2. National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK). Treatment for Lactose Intolerance. Last reviewed February 2018.
3. MedlinePlus Medical Encyclopedia, National Library of Medicine. Lactose intolerance. Review date April 27, 2026.
4. NIDDK. Eating, Diet, & Nutrition for Lactose Intolerance. Last reviewed February 2018.
5. Physician’s Choice. Bloat + Gas Probiotic product page and Supplement Facts label (version 3.1.0).
6. Physician’s Choice. Digestive Enzymes product page and Supplement Facts label (version 3.7.0).
7. NIDDK. Symptoms & Causes of Lactose Intolerance. Last reviewed February 2018.
8. NIDDK. Definition & Facts for Lactose Intolerance. Last reviewed February 2018.
9. Health Canada, Natural and Non-prescription Health Products Directorate. Digestive Enzymes monograph. Dated June 26, 2026.
10. Physician’s Choice Journal. When To Take Digestive Enzymes: Does Before or After Meals Make a Difference?

How this page was made

Sources fetched October 28, 2026. Label facts come from our Bloat + Gas Probiotic and Digestive Enzymes Supplement Facts labels and product pages. Written by Physician’s Choice.

‡These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease.