Clinical Research
Copyright ©2007 Baishideng Publishing Group Co., Limited. All rights reserved.
World J Gastroenterol. Feb 28, 2007; 13(8): 1230-1235
Published online Feb 28, 2007. doi: 10.3748/wjg.v13.i8.1230
Molecularly defined adult-type hypolactasia among working age people with reference to milk consumption and gastrointestinal symptoms
Sari R Anthoni, Heli A Rasinperä, Antti J Kotamies, Hanna A Komu, Harri K Pihlajamäki, Kaija-Leena Kolho, Irma E Järvelä
Sari R Anthoni, Kaija-Leena Kolho, Hospital for Children and Adolescents, University of Helsinki, Finland
Heli A Rasinperä, Hanna A Komu, Department of Medical Genetics, University of Helsinki, Finland
Antti J Kotamies, Helsinki Centre of Economic Research, Helsinki, Finland
Irma E Järvelä, Helsinki University Central Hospital, Laboratory of Molecular Genetics, Helsinki, Finland
Harri K Pihlajamäki, Central Military Hospital, Helsinki, Finland
Author contributions: All authors contributed equally to the work.
Supported by the Sigrid Jusélius Foundation, Helsinki, Finland; the Foundation for Nutrition Research, Helsinki, Finland; the Research Foundation of Alfred Kordelin, Helsinki, Finland; Helsinki University Hospital Research Funding, Helsinki, Finland; the Foundation for Promoting Occupational Medicine in Finland, Helsinki, Finland; the Academy of Finland
Correspondence to: Dr. Irma Järvelä, University of Helsinki, Department of Medical Genetics Haartmaninkatu 8, FIN-00290 Helsinki, Finland. irma.jarvela@kolumbus.fi
Telephone: +358-50-5447030
Received: November 18, 2006
Revised: December 28, 2006
Accepted: February 8, 2007
Published online: February 28, 2007
Abstract

AIM: 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.

CONCLUSION: 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.

Keywords: Lactase persistence; Lactose malabsorption; C/T-13910 genotype; Abdominal symptoms; Milk consumption