Biomaterial Database

Systemic lactose intolerance: a new perspective on an old problem. 2005

S B Matthews, and J P Waud, and A G Roberts, and A K Campbell

Department of Medical Biochemistry and Immunology, Llandough Hospital, Cardiff and Vale NHS Trust, Penarth Vale of Glamorgan, UK.

Intolerance to certain foods can cause a range of gut and systemic symptoms. The possibility that these can be caused by lactose has been missed because of "hidden" lactose added to many foods and drinks inadequately labelled, confusing diagnosis based on dietary removal of dairy foods. Two polymorphisms, C/T13910 and G/A22018, linked to hypolactasia, correlate with breath hydrogen and symptoms after lactose. This, with a 48 hour record of gut and systemic symptoms and a six hour breath hydrogen test, provides a new approach to the clinical management of lactose intolerance. The key is the prolonged effect of dietary removal of lactose. Patients diagnosed as lactose intolerant must be advised of "risk" foods, inadequately labelled, including processed meats, bread, cake mixes, soft drinks, and lagers. This review highlights the wide range of systemic symptoms caused by lactose intolerance. This has important implications for the management of irritable bowel syndrome, and for doctors of many specialties.

UI	MeSH Term	Description	Entries
D007787	Lactose Intolerance	The condition resulting from the absence or deficiency of LACTASE in the MUCOSA cells of the GASTROINTESTINAL TRACT, and the inability to break down LACTOSE in milk for ABSORPTION. Bacterial fermentation of the unabsorbed lactose leads to symptoms that range from a mild indigestion (DYSPEPSIA) to severe DIARRHEA. Lactose intolerance may be an inborn error or acquired.	Lactose Malabsorption,Alactasia,Dairy Product Intolerance,Hypolactasia,Milk Sugar Intolerance,Intolerance, Lactose,Malabsorption, Lactose
D007789	Lactose Tolerance Test	A measure of a patient's ability to break down lactose.	Lactose Tolerance Tests,Test, Lactose Tolerance,Tests, Lactose Tolerance,Tolerance Test, Lactose,Tolerance Tests, Lactose
D008875	Middle Aged	An adult aged 45 - 64 years.	Middle Age
D010003	Osteoarthritis	A progressive, degenerative joint disease, the most common form of arthritis, especially in older persons. The disease is thought to result not from the aging process but from biochemical changes and biomechanical stresses affecting articular cartilage. In the foreign literature it is often called osteoarthrosis deformans.	Arthritis, Degenerative,Osteoarthrosis,Osteoarthrosis Deformans,Arthroses,Arthrosis,Arthritides, Degenerative,Degenerative Arthritides,Degenerative Arthritis,Osteoarthritides,Osteoarthroses
D001944	Breath Tests	Any tests done on exhaled air.	Breathalyzer Tests,Breath Test,Breathalyzer Test,Test, Breath,Test, Breathalyzer,Tests, Breath,Tests, Breathalyzer
D004485	Eczema	A dermatitis characterized by a spongiotic tissue reaction pattern occurring as a reaction to many endogenous and exogenous agents.	Dermatitis, Eczematous,Eczematous Dermatitis
D005260	Female		Females
D006801	Humans	Members of the species Homo sapiens.	Homo sapiens,Man (Taxonomy),Human,Man, Modern,Modern Man
D001249	Asthma	A form of bronchial disorder with three distinct components: airway hyper-responsiveness (RESPIRATORY HYPERSENSITIVITY), airway INFLAMMATION, and intermittent AIRWAY OBSTRUCTION. It is characterized by spasmodic contraction of airway smooth muscle, WHEEZING, and dyspnea (DYSPNEA, PAROXYSMAL).	Asthma, Bronchial,Bronchial Asthma,Asthmas
D043183	Irritable Bowel Syndrome	A disorder with chronic or recurrent colonic symptoms without a clearcut etiology. This condition is characterized by chronic or recurrent ABDOMINAL PAIN, bloating, MUCUS in FECES, and an erratic disturbance of DEFECATION.	Colitis, Mucous,Colon, Irritable,Colitides, Mucous,Irritable Bowel Syndromes,Irritable Colon,Mucous Colitides,Mucous Colitis,Syndrome, Irritable Bowel,Syndromes, Irritable Bowel