Abstract
Objective: To analyze the lactose sensitivity towards milk consumption of households living in the urban part of Bornova district of Izmir.
Material and Methods: In the research, data were collected from 271 household members living in Bornova district center by using the proportional sample size formula. In the analysis of the collected data, first of all the demographic and socio-economic characteristics of the households were revealed, then the lactose sensitivity towards milk consumption and the complaints that emerged were revealed. At this stage, groups were formed in terms of gender, age, weight structure, education level and marital status and comparisons were made.
Results: While 6.64 % of the participants do not consume milk at all, the rate of those who consume milk every day is 25.09 %. Those who consumed it several times a week had the highest rate with 40.59 %. While 63.12 % of household members who regularly consume milk are men, 36.88 % are women, 38.46 % of those who rarely and never consume milk are men and 61.54 % are women. When the consumption status is examined in terms of age group, the rate of those who consume milk regularly is 75 % in total, while the rate of those who consume very rarely or not at all is a little more than 74 %. Considering the change in milk consumption according to education level, the rate of those in high school and higher education is 74.42 %, while this value is found to be 78.85 % for those who do not consume very rarely or not. In the study, the reasons for consuming milk very rarely or not at all are allergic disorders with 28 %, taste and gastrointestinal disorders with 23.08 %. Bad memory about milk was the lowest cause with 1.92 %.
Conclusion: In Turkey, scientific and technological studies should be carried out for the production of fermented milk products and vaccine cultures used in these products, lactose-free milk products, and lactase enzyme in powder or tablet form for the problem of lactose intolerance. Parents and teachers should be informed about the factors affecting milk consumption and protective measures. Especially the parents of children who do not like milk have a great responsibility. They should investigate why their children do not like milk and develop methods to increase their milk consumption. According to the research of lactose intolerance in Turkey it is required to reveal the map. This situation may increase the motivation of the food industry to develop lactose-free products, as well as allow differentiation in regional production.