Lactose Intolerance and Dairy Alternatives in the Middle East: Market and Medical Perspectives
Lactose intolerance is one of the most prevalent food sensitivities in the Middle East, with recent peer‑reviewed studies in Saudi Arabia confirming prevalence rates ranging from 7% to over 45% depending on diagnostic methods. A cross‑sectional study in Riyadh found that nearly half of participants tested positive for lactose intolerance, highlighting the widespread nature of the condition. This medical evidence provides a clear explanation for the rapid expansion of lactose‑free and plant‑based dairy alternatives across the region. The IndexBox report on the Middle East food intolerance products market further demonstrates how this health reality has translated into consumer demand, with dairy alternatives now representing the largest segment of intolerance‑related products.
Another Peer‑Reviewed Study Shows Vegan Diet Outperforms Mediterranean for Weight Loss
A new study published in Frontiers in Nutrition has found that a low‑fat vegan diet leads to greater weight loss than the Mediterranean diet. Conducted by researchers at the Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine (PCRM) in Washington, D.C., the randomized, cross‑over trial compared the two diets in overweight adults. The Mediterranean diet, which emphasizes fruits, vegetables, legumes, fish, low‑fat dairy, and olive oil, was long considered a benchmark for healthy eating. The vegan diet, by contrast, excludes all animal products and focuses on fruits, vegetables, grains, and legumes, while limiting oils and nuts. In this study, the vegan diet proved more effective for weight management.