BACKGROUND The available data on the incidence of lactose malabsorption are contradictory. Potential bias in random selection is a major drawback of studies performed to-date. Moreover, molecular analysis of polymorphism -13910 C>T upstream of the lactase (LCT) gene (NM_005915.4:c.1917+326C>T; rs4988235) has not been reported in those studies. Therefore, in this study we aimed to assess genetic...

The only carbohydrate in milk is lactose, a disaccharide, which is formed of a molecule of glucose and a molecule of galactose. Cow's milk contains about 5 % lactose and human milk about 6'5-7 %. Lactose is hydrolysed to its monosaccharides principally by a specific enzyme, lactase, which is a f-galactosidase. There are also two other enzymes with ,3-galactosidase activitv, lysosomal acid 3-gal...

Reaginic hypersensitivity in ulcerative colitis has been investigated in respect of a hypersensitivity to the cow's milk proteins and the frequency of atopic asthma, hay fever, and eczema. Intradermal tests were frequently positive, especially to casein, but the results did not differ from those found in healthy individuals and in groups of patients with Crohn's disease, hypolactasia, and the i...

Intolerance to certain foods can cause a range of gut and systemic symptoms. The possibility that these can be caused by lactose has been missed because of "hidden" lactose added to many foods and drinks inadequately labelled, confusing diagnosis based on dietary removal of dairy foods. Two polymorphisms, C/T13910 and G/A22018, linked to hypolactasia, correlate with breath hydrogen and symptoms...

Sixty one duodenal biopsy specimens were examined for the expression of lactase at the level of enzyme activity, protein, and messenger RNA. Of the 51 samples with normal villous architecture, 39 were lactase persistent, 11 were nonpersistent (adult type hypolactasia), and one was of indeterminate status. All the lactase persistent individuals showed high mRNA and a high level of the lactase pr...