Skip to main content

Advertisement

SpringerLink
Log in

Lactase Non-persistence and Lactose Intolerance

  • Small Intestine (D Sachar, Section Editor)
  • Published:
Current Gastroenterology Reports Aims and scope Submit manuscript

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.

Summary

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.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Fig. 1

Similar content being viewed by others

References

Papers of particular interest, published recently, have been highlighted as: • Of importance •• Of major importance

  1. Auricchio S, Rubino A, Semenza G, Landolt M, Prader A. Isolated intestinal lactase deficiency in the adult. Lancet. 1963;2(7303):324–6.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  2. Dahlqvist A, Hammond JB, Crane RK, Dunphy JV, Littman A. Intestinal lactase deficiency and lactose intolerance in adults. Preliminary report. Gastroenterology. 1963 October;45:488–91.

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  3. •• Bayless TM, Rosensweig NS. A racial difference in incidence of lactase deficiency. JAMA. 1966;197(19):138–42. Second most widely cited gastroenterology paper in JAMA in 50 year period. Reference #4 was the most cited.

    Google Scholar 

  4. Crohn BB, Ginzburg L, Oppenheimer GD. Regional ileitis. A pathologic and clinical entity. JAMA. 1932;99:1323–9.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  5. Cuatrecasas P, Lockwood DH, Caldwell JR. Lactase deficiency in the adult. A common occurrence. Lancet. 1965;1(Jan 2):14–8.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  6. Ransome-Kuti B. Personal communication. 1996

    Google Scholar 

  7. Huang SS, Bayless TM. Milk and lactose intolerance in healthy Orientals. Science. 1968;160(5 April):83–4.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  8. •• Swallow DM. Genetics of lactase persistence and lactose intolerance. Annu Rev Genet. 2003;37:197–219. A key early review on lactase persistence and non-persistence.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  9. •• Ingram CJE, Mulcare CA, Itan Y, Thomas MG, Swallow DM. Lactose digestion and the evolutionary genetics of lactase persistence. Hum Genet. 2009;124:579–91. Important review on evolution of lactase persistence.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  10. •• Simoons FJ. Primary lactose intolerance and the milking habit: a problem in biological and cultural interrelationships. II. A culture historical hypothesis. Am J Dig Dis. 1970;15:695–710. The leader in recognizing the role of dairying and milk consumption in the development of lactase persistence

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  11. Simoons FJ. The geographic hypothesis and lactose malabsorption—a weighing of the evidence. Am J Dig Dis. 1978;23:963–80.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  12. •• Simoons FJ. Lactose digestion. Clinical and nutritional implications. In: Paige DM, Bayless TM, editors. Geographic patterns of primary adult lactose malabsorption. A further interpretation of evidence for the old world. Baltimore: Johns Hopkins University Press; 1981. p. 23–48. The first text on lactose intolerance.

    Google Scholar 

  13. • Jones BL, Oljira T, Liebert A, et al. Diversity of lactase persistence in African milk drinkers. Hum Genet. 2015;134:917–25.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  14. •• Enattah N, Sahi T, Savilahti E, Terwilliger JD, Groop PH, Jarvela I, et al. Identification of a variant associated with adult-type hypolactasia. Nat Genet. 2002;30:223–7. Seminal paper on the lactase non-persistence gene.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  15. Poulter M, Hollox E, Harvey CB, et al. The causal element for the lactase persistence/non-persistence polymorphism is located in a 1Mb region of linkage disequilibrium in Europeans. Ann Hum Genet. 2003;67:298–311.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  16. Troelsen JT. Adult-type hypolactasia and regulation of lactase expression. Biochim Biophys Acta. 2005;1723:19–32.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  17. Jarvela I, Torniainen S, Kolho KL. Molecular genetics of human laccase deficiencies. Ann Med. 2009;41:568–75.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  18. • Dzialanski Z, Barany M, Engfeldt MA, Olsson LA, Nilsson TK. Lactase persistence versus lactose intolerance: is there an intermediate phenotype? Clinbiochem. 2016;49:248–52. Describes heterozygotes.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  19. Ennattah ND, Kuokkanen M, Forsblom C, et al. Correlation of intestinal disaccharidase activities with the C/T-13910 variant and age. World J Gastroenterol. 2007;12:3508–12.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  20. • Santonocita C, Scapaticci M, Guarino D, et al. Lactose intolerance genetic testing: is it useful as routine screening? Results on 1426 south-central Italy patients. Clinical Chimica Acta. 2015;439:14–7. Used commercial kit to determine lactase status.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  21. • Awuah B, Yaa N, Fleet S, et al. Functional significance of single nucleotide polymorphisms in the lactase gene in diverse US patents and evidence for a novel lactase persistence allele at -13909 in those of European ancestry. J Pediatr Gastroenterol Nutr. 2015;60:182–91. Useful study from Boston Pediatrics.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  22. • Labrie V, Burke OJ, Oh E, et al. Lactase nonpersistence is directed by DNA-variation-dependent epigenetic aging. Nat Struct Mol Biol. 2016;23:566–73. Proposes epigenetic aging to explain lactase non-persistence.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  23. •• Szilagyi A. Adult lactose digestion status and effects on disease. Can J Gastroenterol Hepatol. 2015a;29:149–56. Important review.

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  24. •• Szilagyi A, Galiatsatos P, Xue X. Systematic review and meta-analysis of lactose digestion, its impact on intolerance and nutritional effects of dairy food restriction in inflammatory bowel diseases. Nutr J. 2016;15:67–80. Useful review.

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  25. • Levitt M, Witt T, Shaukat A. Clinical implications of lactose malabsorption versus lactose intolerance. J Clin Gastro. 2013;47:471–80. Reviews placebo controlled trials and tends to minimize the clinical importance of lactose intolerance.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  26. • Raz M, Sharon Y, Yerushalmi B, Birk R. Frequency of LCT-13910C/T and LCT-22018G/A single nucleotide polymorphisms associated with adult-type hypolactasia/lactase persistence among Israelis of different ethnic groups. Gene. 2013;519:67–70. Good ethnic study.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  27. •• Paige DM. Lactose intolerance. Encyclopedia of Human Nutrition (Third Edition). 2013:67–73. An excellent review of the nutritional implications.

  28. •• Curry A. Archaeology: the milk revolution. When a single genetic mutation first let ancient Europeans drink milk, it set the stage for a continental upheaval. Nature. 2013;50:20–2. Great story, with maps, of the evolution of lactase persistence and milk drinking.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  29. •• Silanikove N, Leitner G, Merin U. The interrelationships between lactose intolerance and the modern dairy industry: global perspectives in evolutional and historical backgrounds. Nutrients. 2015a;7:7312–31. Excellent global perspective on the dairy industry.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  30. • Gerbault P. The onset of lactase persistence in Europe. Hum Hered. 2013;76:154–161.1. An anthropological perspective.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  31. • Diekmann L, Pfeiffer K, Naim HY. Congenital lactose intolerance is triggered by severe mutations on both alleles of the lactase gene. BMC Gastroenterol. 2015;16:36–43. Congenital lactase deficiency.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  32. Elliott RB, Maxwell GM, Vawser N. Lactose maldigestion in Australian aboriginal children. Med J Aust. 1967;1:46–9.

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  33. Huang SS, Bayless TM. Lactose intolerance in healthy children. New Engl J Med. 1967;276:1283–7.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  34. Paige DM, Bayless TM, Mellits ED, Davis L. Lactose malabsorption in preschool black children. Am J Clin Nutr. 1977;30:1018–22.

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  35. Bayless TM, Huang SS. Recurrent abdominal pain due to milk and lactose intolerance in school-aged children. Pediatrics. 1971;47:1029–32.

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  36. Wittenberg DF, Moosa A. Lactose maldigestion-age-specific prevalence in black and Indian children. S Afr Med J. 1990;78:470–2.

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  37. Thomas S, Walker-Smith JA, Senewiratne B, Hjelm M. Age dependency of the lactase persistence and lactase restriction phenotypes among children in Sri Lanka and Britain. J Trop Peditr. 1990;30:80–5.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  38. Kuchay RAH, Thapa BR, Mahmod A, Mahmood S. Effect of C/T-13910 cos-acting regulatory variant on expression and activity of lactase in Indian children and its implication for early genetic screening of adult-type hypolactasia. Clin Chim Acta. 2011;412:1924–32.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  39. Rossi M, Maiuri L, Fusco MI, et al. Lactase persistence versus decline in human adults: multifactorial events are involved in down-regulation after weaning. Gastroenterology. 1997;112:1506–14.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  40. •• Bayless TM, Christopher NL, Boyer SH. Autosomal recessive inheritance of intestinal lactase deficiency: evidence from ethnic differences. J Clin Invest. 1969:48–6a. Described lactase deficiency as a recessive trait.

  41. Sahi T, Isokoski M, Jussila J, Launiala K, Pyorala K. Recessive inheritance of adult-type lactose malabsorption. Lancet. 1973;2:823–6.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  42. Metneki J, Czeizel A, Flatz S, Flatz G. A study of lactose absorption capacity in twins. Hum Genet. 1984;67:296–300.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  43. • Paz-y-Mino C, Burgos G, Lopez-Cortes A, et al. A study of the molecular variants associated with lactase persistence in different Ecuadorian ethnic groups. Am J Human Biol. 2016;0:1–11. Shows effects of genetic admixture on lactase polymorphism.

    Google Scholar 

  44. Suarez FI, Savaiano DA, Levitt MD. A comparison of symptoms after the consumption of milk or lactose-hydrolyzed milk by people with self-reported severe lactose intolerance. N Engl J Med. 1995;333:1–4.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  45. •• Yang J, Deng Y, Chu H, et al. Prevalence and presentation of lactose intolerance and effects on dairy product intake in healthy subjects and patients with irritable bowel syndrome. Clin Gastro Hepatol. 2013;11:262–8. A good study of the role of co-existent IBS in a population with universal lactase non-persistence.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  46. Christopher NL, Bayless TM. Role of the small bowel and colon in lactose-induced diarrhea. Gastroenterology. 1971;60:845–52.

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  47. Bedine MS, Bayless TM. Intolerance of small amounts of lactose by individuals with low lactose levels. Gastroenterology. 1973;65:735–43.

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  48. • Deng Y, Misselwitz DN, Fox M. Lactose intolerance in adults: biological mechanism and dietary management. Nutrients. 2015;7:8020–35. A broad review.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  49. Mitchell KJ, Bayless TM, Paige DM, Goodgame RW, Huang SS. Intolerance of eight ounces of milk in healthy lactose-intolerant teen-agers. Pediatrics. 1975;56:718–21.

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  50. Bayless TM, Rothfeld B, Massa C, Wise L, Paige D, Bedine MS. Lactose and milk intolerance: clinical implications. N Engl J Med. 1975;292:156–9.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  51. •• Shaukat A, Levitt MD, Taylor BC, MacDonald R, Shamilyan TA, Kane RL, Witt TJ. Systematic review: effective management strategies for lactose intolerance. Ann Intern Med. 2010;152:797–803. Reviews placebo controlled trials and tends to minimize the clinical importance of lactose intolerance.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  52. •• Suchy GJ, Brannon PM, Carpenter TO, et al. National Institutes of Health consensus development conference: lactose intolerance and health. Ann Intern Med. 2010;152:792–6. Reviews placebo controlled trials and tends to minimize the clinical importance of lactose intolerance.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  53. •• Erickson J, Sadeghirad B, Lytyvn L, Slavin J, Johnston BC. The scientific basis of guideline recommendations on sugar intake: A systematic review. Ann Intern Med 2016; Dec 20. Doi 10.7326/M16-2020. A highly criticized attempt by the sugar industry to minimize the importance of sugar in obesity be altering definitions and selecting biased studies, reminiscent of the efforts by the tobacco and dairy industries.

  54. Paige, DM & Graham, GG, "Nutritional Implications of Lactose Malabsorption", Pediatric Research abstract 6:329, 1972.

  55. Paige, DM, Bayless, TM, and Graham, GG, "Pregnancy and Lactose Intolerance," American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, 26:238–240, March, 1973.

  56. Leichter, J, "Effects of Lactose on the Absorption of Other Nutrients" in Paige, DM, & Bayless, TM, Editors: "Lactose Digestion: Clinical and Nutritional Implications", The Johns Hopkins University Press, Baltimore, Maryland, P.142–147,1981.

  57. •• Paige DM, Bayless TM, Huang SS, Wexler R. Lactose hydrolyzed milk. Am J Clin Nutr. 1975;28:818–22. First report of lactose hydrolyzed milk being acceptable for lactose intolerant individuals.

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  58. • Casellas F, Aparici A, Perez MJ, Rodriguez P. Perception of lactose intolerance impairs health-related quality of life. European J Clin Nutr. 2016;70:1068–72. Overlap with IBS a problem.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  59. • Szilagyi A. Adaptation to lactose in lactase non persistent people: effects on intolerance and the relationship between dairy food consumption and evaluation of diseases. Nutrients. 2015b;7:6751–79. An important look at dairy food consumption and adaptation to continued small amounts of lactose.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  60. Hertzler SR, Savaiano DA, Levitt MD. Fecal hydrogen production and consumption measurements. Response to daily lactose ingestion by lactose maldigesters. Dig Dis Sci. 1997;42:348–53.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  61. •• Briet F, Pochart P, Marteau P, Flourie B, Arrigoni E, Rambaud JC. Improved clinical tolerance to chronic lactose ingestion in subjects with lactose intolerance: a placebo effect? Gut. 1997;41:632–5. Poor paper. Used 50 grams of lactose, equivalent to a quart of milk, as the challenge!

    Article  CAS  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  62. • Bohner CJ, Tuynman HA. The effect of a lactose-restricted diet in patients with a positive lactose tolerance test, earlier diagnosed as irritable bowel syndrome: a 5-year follow-up study. Eur J Gastroenterol Hepatol. 2001;13:941–4. A good early study of the role of lactose intolerance in some patients with IBS.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  63. Zhu Y, Zheng X, Cong Y, Chu H, Fried M, Dai N, Fox M. Bloating and distention in irritable bowel syndrome: the role of gas production and visceral sensation after lactose ingestion is a population with lactase deficiency. Am J Gastroenterol. 2013;10:1516–25. A good pathophysiologic study of the reasons for exaggerated symptoms of lactose intolerance in subjects with co-existent IBS.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  64. • Arguelles-Arias F, Rodriguez-Ledo, Tenias JM et al. The management of lactose intolerance among primary care physicians and its correlation with management by gastroenterologists: the SEPD=SEMG national survey. Rev Esp Enfirm Dig (Madrid) 2015;107:554–559. Spanish gastroenterologists considered lactose intolerance a minor condition and saw it as overlapping with IBS.

  65. • Ferdman RA. The mysterious case of America’s plummeting milk consumption. The Washington Post June 20.2014. A reporter’s view of milk consumption.

  66. • Sebastian RD, Goldman JD, Wilkinson Enns C, LaComb, RP. Fluid milk consumption in the United States: What we eat in America. NHANES 2005–2006. Food Surveys Research Group. Dietary Data Brief No.3. Sept 2010. Major data on milk consumption from the government.

  67. •• Shrier I, Szilagyi A, Correa JA. Impact of lactose containing foods and the genetics of lactase on diseases: an analytical review of population data. Nut Cancer. 2008;60:292–300. Shows prevalence of lactase non-persistence in a country’s population correlates with the amount of dairy food consumption.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  68. Paige DM, Bayless TM, Ferry GD, Graham GG. Lactose malabsorption and milk rejection in Negro children. Johns Hopkins Med J. 1971;20:163–70.

    Google Scholar 

  69. Paige DM, Bayless TM, Graham GG. Milk programs: helpful of harmful to Negro children? Am J Pub Health. 1972;62:486–8.

    Google Scholar 

  70. • Almon R, Sjostrom M, Nillsson TK. Lactase non-persistence as a determinant of milk avoidance and calcium intake in children and adolescents. J Nutr Sci. 2013;2:e26. doi:10.1017/jns2013.11.Linked LMP and decreased dairy intake.

  71. Keith JN, Nicholls J, Reed A, Kafer K, Miller GD. The prevalence of self-reported lactose intolerance and the consumption of dairy foods among African American adults are less than expected. J Natl Med Assoc. 2011;102:36–45.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  72. • Baadkar SV, Mukherjee MS, Lele SS. Study on influence of age, gender and genetic variants on lactose intolerance and its impact on milk intake in adult Asian Indians. Hum Biol. 2014;41:548–53. Linked LMP and diminished dairy ingestion.

  73. Paige DM, Witter FR, Bronner YL, Kessler LA, Perman JA, Paige TR. Lactose digestion in pregnant African-Americans. Pub Health Nutr. 2003;6:801–7.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  74. • Bailey RK, Fileli CP, Keith J, Tropez-Sims S, Price W, Allison-Offey SD. Lactose intolerance and health disparities among African Americans and Hispanic Americans: an updated consensus statement. J Natl Med Assoc. 2013;105:112–27. Funded by National Dairy Association.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  75. • Heaney RP. Dairy intake, dietary adequacy and lactose intolerance. Adv Nutr. 2013;4:151–60. Concern for decreased dairy intake and relation to lactose intolerance.

  76. • Brown-Riggs C. Nutrition and health disparities: the role of dairy in improving minority health outcomes. Int J Environ Res Public Health. 2016;13:28–36. Supports the use of yogurt in lactose intolerant populations.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  77. • Opstelten JL, Leenders M, Dik VK, et al. Dairy products, dietary calcium and risk of inflammatory bowel disease: results from a European prospective cohort investigation. Inflam Bowel Dis/. 2016;22:1402–11. Risk of dietary calcium inadequacy in Inflammatory Bowel Disease

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Meyerhoff Digestive Diseases-Inflammatory Bowel Disease Center, Gastroenterology Division, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Johns Hopkins Hospital, 600 North Wolfe Street, Baltimore, MD, 21287, USA

    Theodore M. Bayless

  2. 800 A Southerly Road, # 1122, Towson, MD, 21286, USA

    Theodore M. Bayless

  3. Department of Population, Family and Reproductive Health, Johns Hopkins University, Bloomberg School of Public Health, 615 North Wolfe Street, Baltimore, MD, 21205, USA

    Elizabeth Brown & David M. Paige

Authors
  1. Theodore M. Bayless
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Elizabeth Brown
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. David M. Paige
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Theodore M. Bayless.

Ethics declarations

Conflict of Interest

The authors declare that they have no conflict of interest.

Human and Animal Rights and Informed Consent

This review contains published papers that presumably met journal standards for publication.

Additional information

This article is part of the Topical Collection on Small Intestine

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Bayless, T.M., Brown, E. & Paige, D.M. Lactase Non-persistence and Lactose Intolerance. Curr Gastroenterol Rep 19, 23 (2017). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11894-017-0558-9

Download citation

  • Published:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11894-017-0558-9

Keywords

Search

Navigation