Abstract
To determine whether lactose influences the absorption of calcium, the uptake of calcium from lactose-hydrolyzed milk and from unhydrolyzed milk was measured in 20 adults: 10 were lactase-deficient and 10 were lactase-sufficient as defined by breath hydrogen test, plasma glucose determination after oral lactose dose, and presence or absence of symptoms after lactose ingestion. On different days, each subject received either lactose-hydrolyzed or unhydrolyzed milk. Calcium absorption was measured by a double-isotope technique. In the lactase-deficient group, the mean absorptions were 33.5% from hydrolyzed milk and 36.2% from the same volume of unhydrolyzed milk (P>0.30). In the lactase-sufficient group, mean absorptions were 24.2% from hydrolyzed milk and 25.7% from unhydrolyzed milk. The mean calcium absorption from both lactose-hydrolyzed milk and unhydrolyzed milk was significantly greater (P<0.01) in the lactase-deficient group compared to the lactase-sufficient group, presumably reflecting lower dietary calcium intake in the former. These data indicate that, in lactase-deficient subjects, malabsorption of lactose does not affect calcium absorption.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Ringrose RE, Thompson JB, Welsh JD: Lactose malabsorption and steatorrhea. Am J Dig Dis 17:533–538, 1972
Calloway DH, Chenoweth WL: Utilization of nutrients in milk- and wheat-based diets by men with adequate and reduced abilities to absorb lactose. I. Energy and nitrogen. Am J Clin Nutr 26:939–951, 1973
Debongnie JC, Newcomer AD, McGill DB, Phillips SF: Absorption of nutrients in lactase deficiency. Dig Dis Sci 24:225–231, 1979
Bond JH, Levitt MD: Quantitative measurement of lactose absorption. Gastroenterology 70:1058–1062, 1976
Wasserman RH, Lengemann FW:, Further observations on lactose stimulation of the gastrointestinal absorption of calcium and strontium in the rat. J Nutr 70:377–384, 1960
Leichter J, Tolensky AF: Effect of dietary lactose on the absorption of protein, fat and calcium in the postweaning rat. Am J Clin Nutr 28:238–241, 1975
Armbrecht HJ, Wasserman RH: Enhancement of Ca2+ uptake by lactose in the rat small intestine. J Nutr 106: 1265–1271, 1976
Ghishan FK, Stroop S, Meneely R: The effect of lactose on the intestinal absorption of calcium and zinc in the rat during maturation. Pediatr Res 16:566–568, 1982
Pansu D, Chapuy MC: Calcium absorption enhanced by lactose and xylose. Calcif Tissue Res 4(Suppl):155–156, 1970
Condon JR, Nassim JR, Millard FJC, Hilbe A, Stainthorpe EM: Calcium and phosphorus metabolism in relation to lactose tolerance. Lancet 1:1027–1029, 1970
Kocián J, Skála I, Bakos K: Calcium absorption from milk and lactose-free milk in healthy subjects and patients with lactose intolerance. Digestion 9:317–324, 1973
Cochet B, Jung A, Griessen M, Bartholdi P, Schaller P, Donath A: Effects of lactose on intestinal calcium absorption in normal and lactase-deficient subjects. Gastroenterology 84:935–940, 1983
Newcomer AD: Lactase deficiency: Definition and screening tests.In Genetics and Heterogeneity of Common Gastrointestinal Disorders. JI Rotter, IM Samloff, DL Rimoin (eds). New York, Academic Press, 1980, pp 195–213
Newcomer AD, McGill DB, Thomas PJ, Hofmann AF: Prospective comparison of indirect methods for detecting lactase deficiency. N Engl J Med 293:1232–1236, 1975
Szymendera J, Heaney RP, Saville PD: Intestinal calcium absorption: Concurrent use of oral and intravenous tracers and calculation by the inverse convolution method. J Lab Clin Med 79:570–578, 1972
Newcomer AD, Hodgson SF, McGill D, Thomas PJ: Lactase deficiency: Prevalence in osteoporosis. Ann Intern Med 89:218–220, 1978
Birge SJ Jr, Keutmann HT, Cuatrecasas P, Whedon GD: Osteoporosis, intestinal lactase deficiency and low dietary calcium intake. N Engl J Med 276:445–448, 1967
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Additional information
Published in part in abstract form (Gastroenterology 80:1305, 1981).
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Tremaine, W.J., Newcomer, A.D., Lawrence Riggs, B. et al. Calcium absorption from milk in lactase-deficient and lactase-sufficient adults. Digest Dis Sci 31, 376–378 (1986). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01311672
Received:
Revised:
Accepted:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01311672