Ecoli Nutrition: Does It Only Feed on Lactose?

[Suraj M]

This might be a stupid question,but does E Coli obtain energy only by using up lactose, or other sugars too?
I want to know because if Lactose is the only sugar it feeds on, then a lactose intolerant person would not have E Coli in his colon(intestine)?

 

[Ygggdrasil]

E coli can survive on a number of different carbon sources. Glucose is preferred but E coli can use other sugars like lactose or glycerol if glucose is unavailable.

 

[Suraj M]

Okay, thank you :)