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Recently our very own Advisory Board member, Dr Adam Fox, visited Mumsnet to answer a variety of questions about lactose intolerance and allergies.

Mumsnetter ‘rockinhippy’ revealed that both she and her daughter are lactose intolerant. She says: ”I’m curious if there are any definitive links to either antibiotic use and lactose intolerance or Heliobacter Pylori infection & lactose intolerance?”

She asked because she noticed that her daughter’s lactose intolerance seemed to worsen following a bout of antibiotics.

She continued: “I’ve also recently been diagnosed with H Pylori (a microaerophilic bacterium found in the stomach), which I have probably had for years, but never previously tested for. Is there a possible link there too?”

Dr Fox replied that lactose intolerance can certainly be the result of inflammation in the gut caused by infection, coeliac disease or even H Pylori, but by far the most common cause is genetics.

He continued: “Mammals are built to digest lactose from breast milk, but once we pass infancy most of us lose the ability to tolerate lactose (as we don’t rely on milk) and thus become lactose intolerant.”

Keep an eye out for more from Dr Fox and the mums from Mumsnet.