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We recently commissioned an extensive piece of research into lactose intolerance and came up with some startling results.

Our first significant finding was that 38% of people who think they have irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) may actually be lactose intolerant. Confusion surrounding diagnosis and management of both conditions is believed to be the reason for this high percentage.

Up to 15% of people in the UK are estimated to be lactose intolerant, but due to the similarity of symptoms and the relatively low awareness of lactose intolerance, sufferers could easily be misdiagnosed as having IBS.

This confusion can have some serious effects, including people living with uncomfortable symptoms indefinitely. Our research found that 1 in 5 have been suffering with symptoms such as bloating, diarrhoea, sickness and cramps for over a decade. Nearly 30% of these sufferers may also have been taken unnecessary medication to treat their perceived IBS, while leaving their actual condition, lactose intolerance, untreated.

Have you ever considered that your IBS could be lactose intolerance? Please share your thoughts with us in the comment section below.

Lactofree’s latest research figures are based 21,000 respondents, questioned during research conducted by TNS in December 2010.