title: Lactose malabsorption and intolerance in Italians. Clinical implications.
abstract: Lactose malabsorption was assessed by the hydrogen breath test in 40 Italian patients with irritable bowel syndrome and 42 controls without abdominal disturbances. Sixty-five percent of patients were "low milk consumers" (0-250 ml milk per day) compared with 38% of controls (P less than 0.02). Lactose loads of 25 and 50 g caused malabsorption in 82.5 and 87.5% patients and in 55 and 62% controls, respectively (patients vs controls P less than 0.02). Malabsorption was more frequent in the "low milk consumers" group (P less than 0.05). During a four-month lactose-free diet as the only treatment 7.5% of patients became symptom-free (and remained so for a further eight-month diet), 52.5% improved, and 40% showed no change.
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D000818:Animals; D001944:Breath Tests; D003109:Colonic Diseases, Functional / Q000178:diet therapy / Q000209:etiology; D005247:Feeding Behavior; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007558:Italy; D007785:Lactose; D007787:Lactose Intolerance / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000178:diet therapy / Q000453:epidemiology*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D008892:Milk; D012737:Sex Factors
chemical_list: D007785:Lactose