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Lactose intolerance

Overview

Open all pages about Lactose intolerance

Symptoms of lactose intolerance include tummy pain, bloating, farting, diarrhoea or being sick after eating dairy products or food containing lactose.

Tests for lactose intolerance can include a diet where you avoid lactose, a breath test and blood tests.

The main treatment for lactose intolerance is reducing the amount of lactose you eat or avoiding it. Lactase supplements can also help some people.

Causes of lactose intolerance include not producing enough lactase (the enzyme that digests lactose) and bowel conditions, infections or injuries.

Lactose intolerance is when you get symptoms, like tummy pain, after eating foods containing lactose, a sugar found in dairy products like milk.

Page last reviewed: 05/01/2023
Next review due: 05/01/2026