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Milk tolerance and the malnourished African
S J O'Keefe1, G O Young, J Rund
1Gastrointestinal Clinic, Groote Schuur Hospital.
European Journal of Clinical Nutrition
|July 1, 1990
Summary
Malnourished African patients, including Bantu and San populations, with lactose malabsorption tolerated whole milk well. This suggests milk is a suitable nutritional supplement for these hospitalized individuals in rural areas.
Area of Science:
- Nutritional Science
- Gastroenterology
- Public Health
Background:
- Adult lactose malabsorption is prevalent in African populations (Bantu, San).
- Environmental changes have worsened malnutrition rates in these groups.
- Assessing milk's suitability as a supplement for malnourished African patients is crucial.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the tolerance and absorption of whole milk in malnourished African patients.
- To compare milk tolerance in Bantu and San populations with healthy Western controls.
- To determine if milk can be an appropriate nutritional supplement.
Main Methods:
- 110 malnourished Bantu and San patients and 22 healthy controls consumed 350 ml whole milk.
- Measured tolerance via symptoms and absorption via breath hydrogen and methane excretion.
- Compared results between African patient groups and Western controls.
Main Results:
- Mild intolerance symptoms were low: ~10% in Bantus, ~20% in Bushmen, compared to controls.
- Average breath hydrogen increase was lower in patients (20 ppm) than controls (34 ppm).
- High baseline breath methane in patients was unaffected by milk ingestion.
Conclusions:
- Despite lactose malabsorption and malnutrition, African patients tolerated whole milk well.
- Milk is an appropriate nutritional supplement for hospitalized Africans in rural settings.
- Findings support the integration of milk into nutritional strategies for vulnerable African populations.