Lactose Intolerance

Lactose Intolerance

This disease manifests as diarrhoea, bloating and flatulence associated with pain and abdominal discomfort in response to dietary lactose ingestion.  Lactose is a carbohydrate found within dairy products like milk and cheese etc.

Depending on ancestry, a significant percentage of the population may actually have certain degrees of lactose intolerance but manifestation of symptoms is variable in the individual depending on actual diet.

Lactase is deficient in people with this disease resulting in maldigestion of lactose containing foods with subsequent symptoms due to excess of this carbohydrate remaining in the gut since it cannot be absorbed.

Lactose intolerance is tested by special breath tests, or blood tests and potentially stool tests as well and is treated with avoidance of lactose containing products and switching to alternatives eg. Soy milk.