Lactose malabsorption in Turkish schoolchildren


ARTAN R., Bicakci Z.

International Medical Journal, cilt.4, sa.4, ss.273-276, 1997 (SCI-Expanded) identifier

  • Yayın Türü: Makale / Tam Makale
  • Cilt numarası: 4 Sayı: 4
  • Basım Tarihi: 1997
  • Dergi Adı: International Medical Journal
  • Derginin Tarandığı İndeksler: Science Citation Index Expanded (SCI-EXPANDED), Scopus
  • Sayfa Sayıları: ss.273-276
  • Anahtar Kelimeler: Child, Lactose intolerance, Lactose malabsorption, Lactose tolerance test, Urinary galactose
  • Atatürk Üniversitesi Adresli: Hayır

Özet

The frequency of adult-type lactose malabsorption and the starting age were investigated in 334 healthy school children. After an fasting overnight each pupil emptied his/her bladder then drank a solution containing 2 g lactose per kg of body weight. Urinary galactose concentrations in the samples taken at the end of the second hour were measured with a galactose-dehydrogenase kit (Galactest, Boehringer Mannheim). A urinary galactose level of less than 0.9 mmol/L was taken to indicate hypolactasia. Lactose malabsorption was determined to be progressively higher with age; 44% at 7, 84% at 14 and the overall average for school-age children was 62%. Frequency of lactose malabsorption showed a linear increase with age. Lactose intolerance symptoms were observed in two thirds of the malabsorbers, wile the same symptoms were found in 30% of children without the malabsorption. The lactose absorption test by determining galactose excretion in urine is an easy and non-invasive screening method.