Figure 3.

Schematic model of the pathogenesis of lactose intolerance symptoms. In a given population, a fraction of individuals will have digestive dysfunction resulting in lactose malabsorption. Within this population, individuals with anxiety disorders or GI disease that increase visceral sensitivity are more susceptible to the lactose challenge. In this model, the risk of developing symptoms increases with lactose dose, severity of digestive dysfunction (lactose malabsorption) and visceral sensitivity. This model of disease is not restricted to lactose but is likely to be shared by other FODMAPs, fermentable oligosaccharides, disaccharides and monosaccharides and polyols.