Calcium absorption from milk in lactase-deficient subjects.
Intestinal calcium absorption from milk containing lactose (+) and from another containing glucose (-) was studied in eight patients with normal lactase (NL) and seven lactase-deficient (LD) subjects to determine if lactase deficiency is implicated in Ca absorption. The results were compared with data obtained from Ca ingestion in a water solution. Ca absorption was measured by a double-isotope technique and the kinetic indices were obtained by a deconvolution method. With (-), Ca absorption was identical in NL and LD subjects and slightly higher than with water solution (15%, NS). With (+), Ca absorption in NL subjects was identical with that from water solution; in LD subjects it increased (23%, p less than 0.02). These data indicate that: Ca is absorbed equally well from milk as from water solution; (+) favors Ca absorption in LD subjects, which suggests that milk ingestion might be encouraged in LD subjects to avoid Ca deficiency; and (-) should be a valuable alternative for lactose-intolerant patients.
Griessen
M
M
Division of Gastroenterology and Nutrition, University of Geneva Hospital and Geneva University, Switzerland.
Cochet
B
B
Infante
F
F
Jung
A
A
Bartholdi
P
P
Donath
A
A
Loizeau
E
E
Courvoisier
B
B
D000818:Animals; D002118:Calcium / Q000493:pharmacokinetics*; D005696:Galactosidases / Q000172:deficiency*; D005947:Glucose / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D007408:Intestinal Absorption; D007785:Lactose / Q000378:metabolism; D007787:Lactose Intolerance / Q000378:metabolism; D008892:Milk / Q000378:metabolism*; D001616:beta-Galactosidase / Q000172:deficiency*
D005696:Galactosidases; D001616:beta-Galactosidase; D005947:Glucose; D007785:Lactose; D002118:Calcium