Can ’ t You Just Do a Hydrogen Breath Test?

Discussion Lactose is a sugar that is commonly found in dairy products. It is digested by the enzyme lactase mainly found on the brush border of the small bowel. Lactase production varies by age and genetics, with infants and young children having a generally higher amount than older children and adults, presumably as they have a more dairy-based diet. There is decreased production starting around 2-3 years of age (i.e. lactase non-persistence). Some people continue to produce lactase at the same levels as infants (i.e. lactase-persistence. “Lactase persistence (lactose tolerance) is seen predominantly in individuals with northern European ancestry, especially Scandinavian, and in certain other populations, including some of the nomadic peoples of the middle east and Africa. Lactase non-persistence (lactose intolerance) is observed in a majority of the world’s populations, including most of those with Asian or African forebearers.” A 2018 scoping review found that “there is insufficient evidence to support any unique associations between [lactose intolerance] symptoms and gender, age or race, except for the expected differences due to genetically determined [lactase non-persistence].” Body size, dose and genetic difference in lactase non-persistence are the main factors of symptoms. Congenital lactase deficiency is not very common but does occur due to genetics of the LCT gene. Primary lactose intolerance is due to the normal developmental change...
Source: PediatricEducation.org - Category: Pediatrics Authors: Tags: Uncategorized Source Type: news