LACTOSE TOLERANCE AND RISK OF MULTIFACTORIAL DISEASES ON THE EXAMPLE OF GASTROINTESTINAL TRACT AND BONE...

Area of Science:

• Human genetics
• Metabolic disorders
• Bone and gastrointestinal health

Background:

• Metabolic changes are implicated in mammalian diseases, including osteoporosis and digestive disorders.
• Lactose intolerance, a common condition affecting 75% of the global population, stems from lactase deficiency.
• Genetic variations in lactase persistence influence disease susceptibility.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the genetic basis of lactase deficiency across diverse ethnic groups.
• To examine the relationship between lactase deficiency and pathologies affecting bone tissue and the gastrointestinal tract.

Main Methods:

• Data on global lactose tolerance, hip fracture incidence, and digestive disease mortality were collected from the International Osteoporosis Foundation and World Health Organization.
• Statistical analyses included the Shapiro-Wilk test and Spearman correlation to assess relationships between variables.

Main Results:

• A significant positive correlation was observed between lactose tolerance and hip fracture frequency (r=0.656).
• A significant negative correlation was found between lactose tolerance and digestive disease mortality (r=-0.577).

Conclusions:

• Genetic factors influencing lactose tolerance are associated with bone and digestive health outcomes.
• Dietary modifications, considering individual lactose tolerance phenotypes and genotypes, are crucial for preventing associated pathologies.