Lactase non-persistence and lactose intolerance
Abstract
Purpose of review To evaluate the clinical and nutritional significance of genetically determined lactase non-persistence and potential lactose and milk intolerance in 65-70% of the world's adult population.Recent findings Milk consumption is decreasing in the USA and is the lowest in countries with a high prevalence of lactase non-persistence. The dairy industry and Minnesota investigators have made efforts to minimize the influence of lactose intolerance on milk consumption. Some lactose intolerant individuals, without co-existent irritable bowel syndrome, are able to consume a glass of milk with a meal with no or minor symptoms. The high frequency of lactase persistence in offspring of Northern European countries and in some nomadic African tribes is due to mutations in the promoter of the lactase gene in association with survival advantage of milk drinking. Educational and commercial efforts to improve calcium and Vitamin D intake have focused on urging consumption of tolerable amounts of milk with a meal, use of lowered lactose-content foods including hard cheeses, yogurt, and lactose-hydrolyzed milk products.
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Lactose intolerance results from reduced lactase activity and causes diarrhea, abdominal distension, and flatulence; symptoms relate to the amount consumed and usually occur above 12 g lactose.
“Lactose intolerance is due to decreased lactase activity, resulting in symptoms such as diarrhea, abdominal distension, and flatulence.The intensity of symptoms is related to the amount of lactose consumed, 57 and gastrointestinal symptoms typically occur when consuming amounts exceeding 12 g of lactose.58”
From Refractory hypothyroidism: unraveling the complexities of diagnosis and management (2023) · cites this paper as [57]
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- Authors
- Bayless, T. M., Brown, E., & Paige, D. M.
- Affiliations
- Johns Hopkins University (US)
- Corresponding author
- Bayless, Theodore M.
- Venue
- Current Gastroenterology Reports
- Published
- 2017-04-18
- Volume
- 19
- Issue
- 5
- Pages
- 23-23
- ISSN
- 1522-8037 (ISSN-L)
- 1534-312X
- OpenAlex
- W2607218014
- Cited by
- 210
- References
- 78
- Citations by year
- 2026: 15 · 2025: 22 · 2024: 21 · 2023: 20 · 2022: 25 · 2021: 40 · 2020: 24 · 2019: 21 · 2018: 20 · 2017: 2
- FWCI
- 2.36
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- closed
- Locations
- Current Gastroenterology Reports (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- Topics
- Life Sciences › Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology › Genetics › Digestive system and related health
- Life Sciences › Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology › Genetics › Nutrition, Genetics, and Disease
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Gastroenterology › Gastrointestinal motility and disorders
- Keywords
- lactase non-persistence, lactose intolerance, lactase persistence, milk consumption, dairy products, calcium intake, vitamin D intake, irritable bowel syndrome, northern European populations
- MeSH terms
- Animals, Dairy Products, Humans, Lactose Intolerance, Milk, Down-Regulation, Irritable Bowel Syndrome, Lactase
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