Lactose Intolerance

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This entry is adapted from the peer-reviewed paper https://medlineplus.gov/genetics/condition/lactose-intolerance

Lactose intolerance is an impaired ability to digest lactose, a sugar found in milk and other dairy products. Lactose is normally broken down by an enzyme called lactase, which is produced by cells in the lining of the small intestine.

genetic conditions

1. Introduction

Congenital lactase deficiency, also called congenital alactasia, is a disorder in which infants are unable to break down lactose in breast milk or formula. This form of lactose intolerance results in severe diarrhea. If affected infants are not given a lactose-free infant formula, they may develop severe dehydration and weight loss.

Lactose intolerance in adulthood is caused by reduced production of lactase after infancy (lactase nonpersistence). If individuals with lactose intolerance consume lactose-containing dairy products, they may experience abdominal pain, bloating, flatulence, nausea, and diarrhea beginning 30 minutes to 2 hours later.

Most people with lactase nonpersistence retain some lactase activity and can include varying amounts of lactose in their diets without experiencing symptoms. Often, affected individuals have difficulty digesting fresh milk but can eat certain dairy products such as cheese or yogurt without discomfort. These foods are made using fermentation processes that break down much of the lactose in milk.

2. Frequency

Lactose intolerance in infancy resulting from congenital lactase deficiency is a rare disorder. Its incidence is unknown. This condition is most common in Finland, where it affects an estimated 1 in 60,000 newborns.

Approximately 65 percent of the human population has a reduced ability to digest lactose after infancy. Lactose intolerance in adulthood is most prevalent in people of East Asian descent, with 70 to 100 percent of people affected in these communities. Lactose intolerance is also very common in people of West African, Arab, Jewish, Greek, and Italian descent.

The prevalence of lactose intolerance is lowest in populations with a long history of dependence on unfermented milk products as an important food source. For example, only about 5 percent of people of Northern European descent are lactose intolerant.

3. Causes

Lactose intolerance in infants (congenital lactase deficiency) is caused by mutations in the LCT gene. The LCT gene provides instructions for making the lactase enzyme. Mutations that cause congenital lactase deficiency are believed to interfere with the function of lactase, causing affected infants to have a severely impaired ability to digest lactose in breast milk or formula.

Lactose intolerance in adulthood is caused by gradually decreasing activity (expression) of the LCT gene after infancy, which occurs in most humans. LCT gene expression is controlled by a DNA sequence called a regulatory element, which is located within a nearby gene called MCM6. Some individuals have inherited changes in this element that lead to sustained lactase production in the small intestine and the ability to digest lactose throughout life. People without these changes have a reduced ability to digest lactose as they get older, resulting in the signs and symptoms of lactose intolerance.

4. Inheritance

The type of lactose intolerance that occurs in infants (congenital lactase deficiency) is inherited in an autosomal recessive pattern, which means both copies of the LCT gene in each cell have mutations. The parents of an individual with an autosomal recessive condition each carry one copy of the mutated gene, but they typically do not show signs and symptoms of the condition.

The ability to digest lactose into adulthood depends on which variations in the regulatory element within the MCM6 gene individuals have inherited from their parents. The variations that promote continued lactase production are considered autosomal dominant, which means one copy of the altered regulatory element in each cell is sufficient to sustain lactase production. People who have not inherited these variations from either parent will have some degree of lactose intolerance.

5. Other Names for This Condition

alactasia
dairy product intolerance
hypolactasia
lactose malabsorption
milk sugar intolerance

References

Harrington LK, Mayberry JF. A re-appraisal of lactose intolerance. Int J Clin Pract. 2008 Oct;62(10):1541-6. doi: 10.1111/j.1742-1241.2008.01834.x. Review. Citation on PubMed
He T, Venema K, Priebe MG, Welling GW, Brummer RJ, Vonk RJ. The role ofcolonic metabolism in lactose intolerance. Eur J Clin Invest. 2008Aug;38(8):541-7. doi: 10.1111/j.1365-2362.2008.01966.x. Review. Citation on PubMed
Heyman MB; Committee on Nutrition. Lactose intolerance in infants, children,and adolescents. Pediatrics. 2006 Sep;118(3):1279-86. Review. Citation on PubMed
Ingram CJ, Mulcare CA, Itan Y, Thomas MG, Swallow DM. Lactose digestion andthe evolutionary genetics of lactase persistence. Hum Genet. 2009Jan;124(6):579-91. doi: 10.1007/s00439-008-0593-6. Epub 2008 Nov 26. Citation on PubMed
Itan Y, Jones BL, Ingram CJ, Swallow DM, Thomas MG. A worldwide correlation oflactase persistence phenotype and genotypes. BMC Evol Biol. 2010 Feb 9;10:36.doi: 10.1186/1471-2148-10-36. Citation on PubMed or Free article on PubMed Central
Järvelä IE. Molecular genetics of adult-type hypolactasia. Ann Med.2005;37(3):179-85. Review. Citation on PubMed
Lomer MC, Parkes GC, Sanderson JD. Review article: lactose intolerance inclinical practice--myths and realities. Aliment Pharmacol Ther. 2008 Jan15;27(2):93-103. Epub 2007 Oct 23. Review. Citation on PubMed
Robayo-Torres CC, Nichols BL. Molecular differentiation of congenital lactase deficiency from adult-type hypolactasia. Nutr Rev. 2007 Feb;65(2):95-8. Review. Citation on PubMed
Storhaug CL, Fosse SK, Fadnes LT. Country, regional, and global estimates for lactose malabsorption in adults: a systematic review and meta-analysis. LancetGastroenterol Hepatol. 2017 Oct;2(10):738-746. doi:10.1016/S2468-1253(17)30154-1. Epub 2017 Jul 7. Review. Citation on PubMed
Torniainen S, Freddara R, Routi T, Gijsbers C, Catassi C, Höglund P, SavilahtiE, Järvelä I. Four novel mutations in the lactase gene (LCT) underlyingcongenital lactase deficiency (CLD). BMC Gastroenterol. 2009 Jan 22;9:8. doi:10.1186/1471-230X-9-8. Citation on PubMed or Free article on PubMed Central

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Peter Tang

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Table of Contents

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1. Introduction

2. Frequency

3. Causes

4. Inheritance

5. Other Names for This Condition

References

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1. Introduction

2. Frequency

3. Causes

3.1. The genes associated with Lactose intolerance

4. Inheritance

5. Other Names for This Condition

References