Can People with Crohn’s Disease Have Dairy?

Research hasn’t found any evidence that dairy contributes to or worsens Crohn’s disease. However, if you find your gut symptoms worsen with dairy, you might be lactose intolerant.

If you have Crohn’s disease, you may wonder if you can consume dairy products.

The truth is, there are no universal dietary guidelines for Crohn’s disease or ulcerative colitis, the two most common forms of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). According to research from 2024, no one diet consistently reduces the rate of flares in adults with IBD.

That said, Crohn’s disease affects people differently, and some may find that certain foods are harder to digest and cause symptoms. People with Crohn’s disease commonly report that dairy is among these foods.

Read on to learn more about dairy and Crohn’s disease and whether you may want to exclude it from your diet.

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Are dairy products an issue for people with Crohn’s disease?

Dairy products aren’t necessarily a concern for people with Crohn’s disease.

A 2024 review of 37 studies looked at the connection between milk and Crohn’s disease. It found there was no clear evidence that milk or dairy products affected the development or course of IBD.

In the two largest and highest quality studies done to date on this subject, one study from 2021 found no relationship between milk or dairy consumption and IBD risk. Another study from 2016 found that people who consumed milk were significantly less likely to develop Crohn’s disease than those who did not drink milk.

Despite these findings, milk and dairy are among the foods that people with IBD most frequently eliminate.

Milk is an important source of calcium, vitamin D, protein, and other essential nutrients. An estimated 65% to 75% of people with Crohn’s disease experience malnutrition, so getting enough nutrients through the diet is important.

Lactose intolerance might be the culprit

Some people with Crohn’s disease may also have lactose intolerance, and this could explain why they react to dairy.

About two-thirds of the population are lactose intolerant, and research shows it’s even more common among people with IBD — and particularly among people with Crohn’s disease of the small intestine.

People who are lactose intolerant don’t produce enough of the enzyme lactase, which helps digest the lactose present in many dairy products. When undigested lactose reaches the large intestine, it can produce symptoms like diarrhea, bloating, cramps, and nausea.

Researchers suggest this may be why people with IBD find that their symptoms worsen when consuming dairy. People may be able to tolerate dairy products with low or no lactose.

Is there a difference between types of dairy?

Dairy is a large food group and not one specific food. You may wonder if some dairy products could be more triggering than others.

Lactose content differs among foods. Some dairy products, like ice cream or milk, contain lots of lactose, so you may want to avoid these. Other dairy products, like hard cheeses, contain virtually no lactose.

You may also be concerned about whether dairy is inflammatory, as this often cited on social media as a reason to avoid it. And since Crohn’s disease is an inflammatory condition, you might be concerned about further inflammation.

The research is somewhat mixed on this.

A 2019 review found that dairy products are not inflammatory, and some even have mild anti-inflammatory effects. Yogurt, in particular, may have anti-inflammatory properties.

The way dairy is processed may affect how inflammatory it is or not.

In a 2024 study, both ultra-high temperature homogenized milk and raw milk were found to be pro-inflammatory, whereas pasteurized milk was anti-inflammatory.

Is there a difference in effects between high fat and low fat dairy?

Some people with Crohn’s disease report that the high fat content of dairy products worsens symptoms more than the lactose content.

However, one 2021 study found that a preference for whole milk (higher fat) over skim milk (lower fat) was associated with a significantly decreased risk of Crohn’s disease.

Overall, the research on this topic is conflicting and low quality. It’s not possible to recommend whether to eat high or low fat dairy products if you have Crohn’s disease.

If dairy products are an issue for me, should I remove all dairy from my diet?

In general, no. Removing all dairy from your diet could negatively alter the microbial biodiversity in your gut.

In addition, eliminating all dairy products can increase your risk of malnutrition — and particularly for calcium deficiency.

If you’re considering eliminating dairy from your diet, it’s best to speak with your doctor or dietitian first.

Dietary approaches for managing dairy and Crohn’s disease

If you have Crohn’s disease and find that you’re sensitive to dairy, it’s important to discuss your situation with your dietitian or doctor before making any big changes. They may give you tests for lactose intolerance and blood tests for vitamin deficiencies. They may also suggest an elimination diet to confirm what is causing your symptoms.

If you’re lactose intolerant in addition to having Crohn’s disease, consider trying any of the lactose-free milk and dairy products on the market. The enzyme lactase has been added to these products to help you digest lactose without discomfort. You can even take the lactase enzyme in pill form.

If your healthcare professionals recommend removing some or all dairy products from your diet, you may want to take a supplement to replace any nutrients you lose.

You may also want to try some of the plant-based milk alternatives now available. Look for those containing vitamin D, protein, and calcium. Otherwise, your healthcare team may recommend supplementing with these or other nutrients.

The takeaway

Many people with Crohn’s disease remove dairy from their diet to try to improve their symptoms. But available research doesn’t suggest that dairy contributes to Crohn’s disease. In fact, some dairy products may even be anti-inflammatory, and dairy is a good source of important nutrients.

However, lactose intolerance may also cause dairy sensitivity if you have Crohn’s disease. It’s important to get a proper evaluation so you can manage your symptoms and stock your kitchen with foods that don’t upset your digestion.