Carolyn English

If you have Congenital Sucrase-Isomaltase Deficiency (CSID), or an acquired or secondary sucrase-isomaltase deficiency, you've probably been told to watch your sucrose intake. But starch can be much more confusing. Some people with sucrase-isomaltase deficiency seem to tolerate rice, bread or potatoes quite well. Others develop bloating, abdominal pain, gas or diarrhoea from starchy foods even when they contain very little sucrose. Why? This distinction between sucrose and starch was an...

If you have sucrase-isomaltase deficiency, working out what you can eat can be surprisingly confusing. This Australian guide uses national food composition data to explain sucrose and starch content, practical portions, and how to build a more varied diet.

Chronic gut symptoms are common in people on the spectrum and are often labelled IBS. This article explores how CSID, a genetic digestive enzyme disorder, may be missed in some people with persistent bloating, abdominal pain and diarrhoea.