Molecularly defined adult-type hypolactasia among working age people with reference to milk consumption and gastrointestinal symptoms.
OBJECTIVE
To study milk consumption and subjective milk-related symptoms in adults genotyped for adult-type hypolactasia.


METHODS
A total of 1900 Finnish adults were genotyped for the C/T(-13910) variant of adult-type hypolactasia and filled in a structured questionnaire concerning milk consumption and gastrointestinal problems.


RESULTS
The C/C(-13910) genotype of adult-type hypolactasia was present in 18% of the study population. The prevalence of the C/C(-13910) genotype was higher among subjects who were undergoing investigations because of abdominal symptoms (24%, P < 0.05). Those with the C/C(-13910) genotype drank less milk than subjects with either the C/T(-13910) or the T/T(-13910) genotype of lactase persistence (18% vs 38%; 18% vs 36%, P < 0.01). Subjects with the C/C(-13910) genotype had experienced more gastrointestinal symptoms (84%) during the preceding three-month period than those with the C/T(-13910) (79%, P < 0.05) or the T/T(-13910) genotype (78 %, P < 0.05). Only 9% (29/338) of the subjects with the C/C(-13910) genotype consumed milk and reported no symptoms from it.


CONCLUSIONS
Gastrointestinal symptoms are more common among adults with the C/C(-13910) genotype of adult-type hypolactasia than in those with genotypes of lactase persistence.
Anthoni
Sari R
SR
Hospital for Children and Adolescents, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland.
Rasinperä
Heli A
HA
Kotamies
Antti J
AJ
Komu
Hanna A
HA
Pihlajamäki
Harri K
HK
Kolho
Kaija Leena
KL
Järvelä
Irma E
IE
D000328:Adult; D000818:Animals; D004415:Dyspepsia / Q000453:epidemiology*; D005387:Finland / Q000453:epidemiology; D006801:Humans; D043322:Lactase / Q000172:deficiency* / Q000235:genetics; D008875:Middle Aged; D008892:Milk / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D020641:Polymorphism, Single Nucleotide; D015995:Prevalence
D043322:Lactase