lactose intolerance

• people with lactose intolerance cannot digest the milk sugar, lactose because of an enzyme deficiency in the body
• symptoms usually develop within a few hours and include wind, diarrhoea, bloated stomach and stomach cramps
• the body can only digest lactose using the enzyme lactase to break lactose down into two sugars called glucose and galactose, which can then be absorbed into the bloodstream'
• people with lactose intolerance dont produce enough lactase, the lactose stays longer in the digestive system where it is fermented by bacteria
• depending on how severe the symptoms are, a person may have to reduce the amount of dairy foods eaten or eliminate them altogether by using lactose free substitutes, in this case they may require additional calcium and vitamin D
• taking a lactase supplement before having food or drink containing lactose may reduce or prevent symptoms for some people