Milk intolerance is a catch-all term that could mean many things.  The
intolerance could be caused by milk allergy which is a reaction to milk
protein.  Or the intolerance could be caused by a reaction to lactose (a
milk sugar).

Lactose intolerance is rare in infants.  Children and adults may have
lactose intolerance (this is most common in non-Caucasian people) and it
is treated by eating/drinking only small amounts of dairy products at a
time, or by drinking milk products that have been treated with an enzyme
that pre-digests the lactose (i.e. Lactaid).  If a breastfeeding mom were
to take the enzyme, it would have *no* effect on her breastmilk.  It will
only affect her digestion of the milk she drinks.

Most babies who have problems because of mom's dairy intake are
reacting to the cow milk proteins she is ingesting.  The enzyme tablets
will not affect these proteins.  Mom would just need to avoid dairy
products.

This is a very simplied explanation.  Let me know if you need more
information.

Debi VanderMey Barr, MS, RD, LD
Portland, Oregon