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Medical Author:

Siamak T. Nabili, MD, MPH

Siamak T. Nabili, MD, MPH

Dr. Nabili received his undergraduate degree from the University of California, San Diego (UCSD), majoring in chemistry and biochemistry. He then completed his graduate degree at the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA). His graduate training included a specialized fellowship in public health where his research focused on environmental health and health-care delivery and management.

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Medical Editor:

Bhupinder Anand, MD

Prevention of the symptoms of lactose intolerance is primarily focused on avoidance of dietary milk and milk containing products. Some aspects of lactose intolerance may be genetically determined and not modifiable.

Some individuals with lactose intolerance are able to slowly increase the amount of lactose intake in their diet without producing symptoms. This adaptation is most likely due to changes in the metabolism of the bacteria in the colon and not because of production of more lactase enzymes. The bacteria, for example, may produce less gas in order to adapt to a more acidic colonic environment induced by slowly introducing more lactose over time.

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