Some lactase is almost always produced even in people with lactose 
intolerance. Therefore, anything that slows the transit of food through the intestines 
allows for better interaction between the lactose molecules and the lactase 
molecules. A full meal moves through the intestines much more slowly than, say, a 
glass of milk. Fewer lactose molecules slip through this way. That's why 
there are fewer and milder symptoms when lactose is eaten as part of a meal, and 
also why an immediate reaction is much less likely to occur.

Steve Carper
Steve Carper's Lactose Intolerance Clearinghouse
www.stevecarper.com

Planet Lactose Blog
planetlactose.blogspot.com