Abstract
Background: Increased intestinal lactase activity has been shown to occur in alloxan and streptozotocin diabetic rats. Objective: The objective of this study was to determine whether increased intestinal lactase activity is present in humans with diabetes mellitus. Design: We assessed the capacity to digest lactose by measuring breath-hydrogen production after oral administration of lactose in 50 patients with type 1 diabetes, 50 patients with type 2 diabetes, and 50 healthy control subjects from Sassari, Sardinia, Italy, a population characterized by a low prevalence of lactase persistence (lactose absorbers). Results: Fourteen percent of control subjects were lactose absorbers, compared with 48% of patients with type 1 diabetes and 52% of patients with type 2 diabetes (P <0.005). The odds ratio of lactase persistence in patients with type 1 diabetes was 5.3 (95% CI: 2.0, 14.0) and in patients with type 2 diabetes was 5.5 (95% CI: 2.1, 14.5). Conclusions: Diabetes is associated with increased intestinal lactase activity in humans. Consequently, there is a greater exposure to glucose and galactose in diabetic patients with high lactose consumption. This may explain the association between diabetes and the risk of cataract.
Original language | English |
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Pages (from-to) | 582-585 |
Number of pages | 4 |
Journal | American Journal of Clinical Nutrition |
Volume | 73 |
Issue number | 3 |
Publication status | Published - 2001 |
Keywords
- Italy
- Lactase
- Lactose absorption
- Type 1 diabetes
- Type 2 diabetes
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Medicine (miscellaneous)
- Food Science