Calcium Lactate and Sodium Lactate Do Not Contain Milk
Calcium lactate and sodium lactate are synthetic chemical compounds that do not contain milk, dairy proteins, or lactose, making them completely safe for patients with milk allergy. The term "lactate" refers to lactic acid, not to lactose or dairy products.
Understanding the Chemistry
Lactate is a chemical compound derived from lactic acid, which can be produced through bacterial fermentation of various carbohydrate sources including corn, beets, or other plant materials—not exclusively from dairy. 1
The confusion arises from nomenclature: "lactate" comes from the Latin word for milk (lac), but the modern industrial production of lactate salts does not require dairy sources. 1
Calcium lactate is simply a calcium salt of lactic acid (chemical formula: Ca(C₃H₅O₃)₂), while sodium lactate is the sodium salt of lactic acid. 1, 2
Safety for Milk Allergy
Patients with cow's milk allergy must eliminate all cow's milk proteins from their diet, but calcium lactate and sodium lactate contain no milk proteins, lactose, or any dairy-derived components. 3
Milk allergy is a reaction to specific proteins in dairy (casein, whey), not to lactic acid or lactate compounds. 4, 3
Calcium absorption from calcium lactate is equivalent to absorption from milk (approximately 32% vs 31%), but this similarity in bioavailability does not mean calcium lactate contains dairy—it simply means both are effective calcium sources. 2
Clinical Implications
For patients avoiding dairy due to milk allergy, calcium lactate represents a safe supplementation option to prevent calcium deficiency, which is a significant concern in dairy-free diets. 4, 3
Children following cow's milk-free diets are at risk for inadequate calcium and vitamin D intake, and calcium supplementation with non-dairy sources like calcium lactate is essential. 3
Parents of children with milk allergies also tend to consume inadequate calcium (273 mg/day vs 520 mg/day in controls), suggesting the entire household may benefit from dairy-free calcium supplementation. 4
Practical Guidance
When counseling patients with milk allergy, explicitly clarify that "lactate" in ingredient lists does not indicate dairy content—this is a common source of confusion and unnecessary dietary restriction. 3
Calcium lactate provides 32% absorption efficiency, making it comparable to other calcium salts and to milk itself. 2
For optimal calcium supplementation in milk-allergic patients, calcium-fortified soy beverages, calcium supplements (including calcium lactate), or other non-dairy calcium sources should be recommended. 5