Ancient milk-drinkers gave us our tolerance

Drinking milk led to taller and heavier ancient humans in some areas and their consumption impacts tolerance to lactose today, a study shows.

A researcher from Queen’s University, Belfast, provided data comparing skeletons over 25,000 years. The research, led by the University of Western Ontario, found between 2,000 and 7,000 years ago the size increase was found in areas where humans had higher levels of genes allowing the production of enzymes that digest milk into adulthood.

It said evolution led to the pattern of lactose intolerance today, where those in the north of Europe are more tolerant than in the south of Europe.