title: [Lactose malabsorption in ulcerative colitis. A case-control study].
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The role of lactose malabsorption in ulcerative colitis is controversial. The aim of this study was to compare the prevalence of lactose malabsorption in a group of ulcerative colitis patients and a control group and to modify lactose consumption in view of the results.
  
  
  METHODS
  Lactose malabsorption was studied using the hydrogen breath test in 52 patients with ulcerative colitis and 34 controls after ingestion of 25 g of lactose. A questionnaire on ingestion of milk products was also administered.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Of the 52 patients with ulcerative colitis, 13 (25%) presented lactose malabsorption compared with 11 of the 34 (32%) controls (p = 0.45). Twenty-four patients (46%) had been advised to completely eliminate lactose from their diets. Twenty-seven of the 39 patients without malabsorption had reduced or eliminated lactose consumption after being diagnosed with ulcerative colitis.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  No significant differences in the prevalence of lactose malabsorption was found between patients with ulcerative colitis and controls. We believe that systematic elimination of lactose from the diets of these patients is erroneous. In our environment, we recommend the hydrogen breath test only in patients with symptoms of lactose intolerance.
authors.affiliation: Servicio de Aparato Digestivo. Hospital Son Dureta. Palma de Mallorca. Spain. dginard@hsd.es
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Ginard
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Riera
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Bonet
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Barranco
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Reyes
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Escarda
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Obrador
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001944:Breath Tests; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D003093:Colitis, Ulcerative / Q000150:complications*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007787:Lactose Intolerance / Q000150:complications* / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000628:therapy; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires