Lactose tolerance in adult Jordanian Arabs

Lactose tolerance tests were performed in 56 male and female Jordanian Arabs who were permanently resident in the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan. Forty three had a low rise in blood glucose and 36 had one or more symptoms after oral lactose. Lactose tolerance was not related to sex, age, milk or milk products consumption. The data presented confirm the few existing reports that the majority of Arabs, originating from the Mediterranean basin are hypolactasic and intolerant to lactose.