Food intolerance

Question 1

What is a food intolerance?

Answer 1

Food intolerance describes a non-immune reaction to a dietary stimulus

Question 2

What is an example of a food intolerance?

Answer 2

Lactose intolerance

Question 3

What causes lactose intolerance?

Answer 3

There is lactase enzyme deficiency leading to poor breakdown of lactose in the gastro-intestinal tract and the excess unabsorbed lactose results in symptoms

Question 4

What are the 3 main mechanisms of food intolerance?

Answer 4

• Intolerances with unknown mechanisms (E.g. food additives)
• Pharmacological intolerances
• Enzymatic intolerances