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Lactose Intolerance

About Lactose Intolerance

Lactose intolerance is one of the true intolerances that exist within a normal diet. Lactose is the sugar that is found in milk and therefore any food that is made with dairy products including milk, butter, cheese and cream is likely to cause symptoms in patients who are truly lactose intolerant. Lactase is the enzyme that is responsible for digesting lactose and this is wholly or partially absent in patients who are lactose intolerant.

The condition is manifest by non-specific abdominal discomfort, nausea, an altered bowel habit tending towards frequency and looseness and generally feeling unwell whenever milk products are ingested.

The diagnosis is usually straight forward to confirm and this is done by taking a biopsy of the second part of the duodenum, via a gastroscopy. If positive then the treatment is to avoid all foods containing milk products.

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