This Article Full Text (PDF) All Versions of this Article: 1559827609331555v1 3/3/212    most recent References Alert me when this article is cited Alert me if a correction is posted Citation Map Services Email this article to a friend Similar articles in this journal Alert me to new issues of the journal Add to Saved Citations Download to citation manager Request Permissions Request Reprints Add to My Marked Citations Citing Articles Citing Articles via Google Scholar Citing Articles via Scopus Google Scholar Articles by Gaskin, D. J. Articles by Ilich, J. Z. Search for Related Content Social Bookmarking                         What's this?

Lactose Maldigestion Revisited: Diagnosis, Prevalence in Ethnic Minorities, and Dietary Recommendations to Overcome It

WIC and Nutrition Services, Tallahassee, Florida

Jasminka Z. Ilich, PhD, RD

Nutrition, Food and Exercise Sciences, Florida State University, Tallahassee, Florida, jilichernst{at}mailer.fsu.edu

Currently, an estimated 25% of Americans and 75% of individuals worldwide seem to suffer from lactose maldigestion. The authors' objective was to evaluate current prevalence of lactose maldigestion/intolerance in populations of various ethnic groups, examine the severity of symptoms, and recommend ways in alleviating them. In the United States, 25% of people who are lactose maldigesters are ethnic minorities. Earlier estimates report that 50% of Hispanic, almost 100% of Asian, and 80% of African Americans suffer from lactose maldigestion. There is evidence linking lactose maldigestion as a factor contributing to low calcium intake, leading to subsequent osteoporotic fractures. Although bone mineral density is higher in African and Hispanic American men and women compared to white and Asian Americans, osteoporosis is still a concern in those populations. Recent studies suggest that current estimates of lactose maldigestion may be grossly overestimated. Clinical trials show that even those individuals who do maldigest lactose could overcome adverse symptoms by a few simple dietary strategies. In addition, new research points to possible manipulation of colonic microflora toward alleviating symptoms.

Key Words: lactose intolerance • African Americans • Asian Americans • Hispanic Americans

This version was published on May 1, 2009

American Journal of Lifestyle Medicine, Vol. 3, No. 3, 212-218 (2009)
DOI: 10.1177/1559827609331555


CiteULike    Complore    Connotea    Del.icio.us    Digg    Reddit    Technorati    Twitter    What's this?