Skip to main content
Log in

Intestinal lactase deficiency and diarrhea in adults

  • Published:
The American Journal of Digestive Diseases Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Conclusions

Two cases of adult lactose intolerance are reported. The absence and severe deficiency of the enzyme B-galactosidase resulting in the syndrome was confirmed by both histochemical staining and paper chromatography.

Methods to determine intestinal enzyme activity by peroral biopsy open a new avenue of investigation of absorption in the gastrointestinal tract and of patients with unexplained diarrhea.

Such cases narrow the concept of food “allergies” often loosely employed for conditions unrelated to immune phenomena.

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

Access this article

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

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. Holzel, A., Schwarz, V., andSutcliffe, K. W. Defective lactose absorption causing malnutrition in infancy.Lancet 1: 1126, 1959.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  2. Darling, S., Mortensen, O., andSøndergaard, G. Lactosuria and aminoaciduria in infancy.Acta paediat. 49:281, 1960.

    Google Scholar 

  3. Rutenburg, A. M., Rutenburg, S. H., Monis, B., Teagle, R., andSeligman, A. M. Histochemical demonstration of B-d-galactosidase in the rat.J. Histochem. 6:122, 1958.

    Google Scholar 

  4. Seligman, A. M., Tsou, K. C, Rutenburg, S. H., andCohen, R. B. Histochemical demonstration of B-d-glucuronidase with a synthetic substrate.J. Histochem. 2:209, 1954.

    Google Scholar 

  5. Pearse, A. G. E. Histochemistry, Theoretical and Applied (ed. 2), Churchill, London, 1960.

    Google Scholar 

  6. Anderson, C. M., Messer, M., Townley, R. R. W., andFreeman, M. Intestinal sucrase and isomaltase deficiency in two siblings.Pediatrics 31:1003, 1963.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  7. Haworth, J. C, andMacDonald, M. S. Reducing sugars in the urine and blood of premature babies.Arch. Dis. Childhood 32: 417, 1957.

    Google Scholar 

  8. Froesch, E. R., Prader, A., Labhart, A., Stuber, H. W., andWolf, H. P. Die hereditäre Fructoseintoleranz, eine bisher nicht bekannte kongenitale Stoffwechselstarung.Schweiz. med. Wchnschr. 87:1168, 1957.

    Google Scholar 

  9. Froesch, E. R., Prader, A., Wolf, H. P., andLabhart, A. Die hereditäre Fructoseintoleranz.Helvet. paediat. acta 14:99, 1959.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  10. Dormandy, T. L., andPorter, R. J. Familial fructose and galactose intolerance.Lancet 1:1189, 1961.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  11. Auricchio, S., Rubino, A., Landolt, M., Semenza, G., andPrader, A. Isolated intestinal lactose deficiency in the adult.Lancet 2:324, 1963.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  12. Jensen, P. E. Intolerance of cane sugar as a sequel of an enzyme deficiency.Acta paediat. 57:227, 1962.

    Google Scholar 

  13. Auricchio, S., Dahlquist, A., Murset, G., andParker, A. Isomaltose intolerance causing decreased ability to utilize dietary starch.J. Pediat. 62:165, 1963.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  14. Weijers, H. A., Van De Kamer, J. H., Dicke, W. K., andIjsseling, J. Diarrhea caused by deficiency of sugar splitting enzymes.I. Acta paediat. 50:55, 1961.

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Additional information

The author would like to express his appreciation to Dr. D. T. Janigan, Assistant Professor of Pathology, for the histochemical studies, and Mrs. Dorothy McField, M.T., Department of Pediatrics, for the paper chromatography studies done in connection with the study reported.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Klotz, A.P. Intestinal lactase deficiency and diarrhea in adults. Digest Dis Sci 9, 345–354 (1964). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02232577

Download citation

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02232577

Keywords

Navigation