Berlin  - People who suffer from lactose intolerance can still handle small amounts of the substance, according to the German Federal Association of Apothecaries.

Those suffering from lactose intolerance have small amounts of the enzyme needed for processing the sugar, meaning they should be able to process six to 12 grams of the substance per meal.

That means sufferers should also be able to swallow tablets containing lactose as the tablets usually have no more than 200 micrograms of lactose. Anyone who has problems with the tablet should look into lactase preparations, which help to digest lactose.

The lactose intolerant produce too little or none of the enzyme lactase the body needs to handle dairy products. This deficiency can lead to bloating, diarrhoea and stomach pain. Estimates say that between 15 and 20 per cent of the world's population is affected by the problem. (dpa)