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Lactose intolerance among Mexican Americans.
The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition
|July 1, 1975
Summary
Lactose intolerance affects nearly half of Mexican Americans tested, with symptoms like diarrhea. The study suggests lactose intolerance has a genetic basis, appearing in multiple generations and both sexes.
Area of Science:
- Genetics
- Gastroenterology
- Human Biology
Background:
- Lactose intolerance is a common condition affecting digestion.
- Understanding its prevalence and inheritance patterns is crucial for public health.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the prevalence of lactose intolerance in Mexican Americans.
- To explore the potential genetic basis of lactose intolerance within families.
Main Methods:
- Interviewed and tested 33 Mexican Americans (ages 9-60).
- Determined lactose intolerance via blood glucose levels after a lactose load, using Ames Dextrostix/Reflectance Meter.
- Analyzed intolerance incidence across generations and sexes.
Main Results:
- 47% of nonrelated Mexican Americans tested were lactose intolerant.
- A significant correlation was observed between low blood glucose rise and gastrointestinal symptoms (diarrhea, flatulence, distention).
- 50% intolerance incidence was found in 16 children from four families, with findings in successive generations and both sexes.
Conclusions:
- Lactose intolerance is prevalent in the studied Mexican American population.
- Evidence supports a genetic basis for lactose intolerance, independent of sex.
- The findings highlight the importance of genetic factors in lactose malabsorption.