Systemic lactose intolerance compared with Darwin’s disease
| Symptoms of systemic lactose intolerance | % People with lactose intolerance who have this symptom* | Darwin’s description of his symptoms | Occurrence of Darwin’s symptoms |
|---|---|---|---|
| *Represents proportion of people diagnosed as lactose intolerant who have this particular symptom within 48 hours of taking lactose. Darwin’s occurrence is based on his notes and letters during periods of the episodes. The systemic symptoms of lactose intolerance are described previously.17,18 | |||
| Gut symptoms (pain, bloating, diarrhoea) | 100 | Stomach ache | Common |
| Flatulence | 100 | Flatulence (belching) | Common |
| Headache | 86 | Headache | Common |
| Light headedness and loss of concentration | 82 | Swimming head and difficulty to concentrate | Common |
| Nausea and vomiting | 78 | Vomiting | Very common |
| Muscle and joint pain | 71 | Rheumatic pain | Often |
| Tiredness and chronic fatigue | 63 | Chronic fatigue and exhaustion | Very common |
| Allergy (eczema, hay fever, rhinitis, sinusitis) | 40 | Skin rash and boils | Often |
| Mouth ulcers | 30 | Mouth sores | Common |
| Heart palpitations | 24 | Palpitations in the chest | Common |
| Depression | Common, but not quantified | Depression | Frequent |