The Socio-Economic Assessment (SEA) highlights important insights for European healthcare systems and the commercial market: the use of probiotics in the context of lactose intolerance could generate annual economic savings of €7.0 billion to €9.5 billion, purely from the reduction of lost working days.
This new analysis explores the relationship between scientific evidence on probiotics and the massive economic footprint of one of Europe’s most common gastrointestinal conditions.
Understanding lactose intolerance in Europe
Lactose intolerance (LI) occurs when the body lacks the lactase enzyme needed to break down lactose, leading to painful symptoms like bloating, abdominal pain, and diarrhoea. While lactose malabsorption affects an estimated 25% of the European population, roughly one-third of these individuals (8% of EU citizens) develop symptomatic lactose intolerance.
Despite this high prevalence, diagnostic delays frequently exceed two years and may have a moderate to high psychosocial impact on quality of life.
The challenges of elimination diets
Currently, the most common approach is to reduce or completely eliminate dairy consumption. This strategy may present certain limitations, as it can cause deficiencies in critical nutrients such as calcium, magnesium, zinc, and essential vitamins, potentially contributing to broader nutritional concerns like osteopenia and osteoporosis. Practically, a strict lactose-free diet is socially challenging due to accidental consumption, restaurant dining, travel, and meal preparation constraints.
The financial toll on society is equally severe. While the European lactose-free dairy market alone reached €4.9 billion in 2023, the true day-to-day cost is borne by families. The total annual cost per affected household is estimated to be between €2,500 and €2,800, driven by an approximate €1,600 surge in grocery expenses alongside significant financial losses in both paid and unpaid working days.
Research on probiotics and lactose intolerance
The scientific evidence evaluated in the assessment confirms that the use of probiotics leads to significant reductions in gastrointestinal symptoms.
Meta-analyses report a statistically significant decrease in abdominal pain without evidence of symptom worsening.
Supporting this consensus, the only authorized health claim for products containing live bacteria explicitly states that “live cultures in yoghurt or fermented milk* improve lactose digestion of the product in individuals who have difficulty digesting lactose”.
*Yoghurt or fermented milk should contain at least 10⁸ Colony Forming Units live starter microorganisms (Lactobacillus delbrueckii subsp. bulgaricus and Streptococcus thermophilus) per gram.
Potential economic implications for policymakers and industry
The assessment’s economic model is based on an assumption of a 50% improvement in symptoms associated with probiotic use. Based on this modelling assumption, recovering lost productivity (both paid and unpaid work) would yield up to €9.5 billion annually in economic benefits.
Beyond potentially offsetting the high grocery costs associated with lactose-free products, the true value of probiotics lies in restored normalcy.
The use of probiotics supports greater dietary flexibility, drastically reducing the heavy social and logistical burdens of strict dietary adherence.
A visual summary of the key insights
For healthcare stakeholders, policymakers, and leaders in the pharmaceutical and food sectors, the assessment provides valuable insights into the potential role of probiotics in the context of lactose intolerance. The findings point to possible benefits extending beyond lactose digestion, with potential implications for quality of life, productivity, and broader socio-economic outcomes.
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Download a ready-made slide deck to present the key concepts from this article
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Access a comprehensive dossier summarizing the latest data on probiotic use.
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Read the full Socio Economic Impact Assessment (SEA) on Probiotics in Europe
