Most Australian adults avoiding dairy products do so without a medical diagnosis in a bid to relieve symptoms such as bloating, according to a survey.
But experts say self diagnosis is hazardous and very concerning, as the avoiders are at risk of nutritional deficiencies and their symptoms could relate to an underlying health condition.
The survey, carried out by CSIRO and the University of Adelaide, found that one-in-six adults choose to avoid milk and dairy foods.
Three-quarters do so to relieve gastrointestinal symptoms such as cramps, bloating or wind, while a small number don't like the taste or think dairy products are fattening.
"The findings are further evidence of a widespread tendency for consumers to exercise control over their health by eliminating dietary factors considered suspect without medical evidence or oversight," the researchers said.
News that makes sense
Your trusted source for staying up-to-date with the world around you. Get free daily news updates and analysis, straight to your inbox.
Decisions to avoid some or all dairy foods were influenced by sources like the internet, media, friends or alternative practitioners.
CSIRO researcher Bella Yantcheva says the scale of people restricting their diet without a medical reason is very concerning, especially for women who need calcium to reduce the risk of osteoporosis.
"It means there is potential for nutritional deficiencies or imbalances, or the risk that an underlying health condition could be going untreated," she said.
Dietician Dr Rosemary Stanton told AAP self diagnosis is "hazardous" as people need to know if they have a medical problem needing treatment.
For adults who don't like the taste, the Australian Dietary Guidelines (ADG) set out alternatives such as calcium-enriched soy, oats, rice or almond milk.
Some people who avoided milk described very vague symptoms such as a brain fog, or feeling unhappy or tired, which often related to other aspects of their life.
"There is a tendency in people that if anything goes wrong with the body it must be something they ate," Dr Stanton said.
"The most common symptom talked about is bloating, but that usually means they are farting, they have got wind.
"That is perfectly normal thing to have."
DAILY DAIRY, OR DAIRY ALTERNATIVES, RECOMMENDED IN ADG
* Women aged 19-50, two-and-a-half serves, increase to four after 50
* Men aged 19-70, two-and-a-half serves a day, increase to three-and-a-half after 70
* A serve equals 250ml of milk, two slices or 40g of cheese, or a 200g tub of yogurt.
