BACKGROUND & OBJECTIVES: Prevalence of adult-type hypolactasia is known to vary among different countries and in different ethnic populations in the same country. The present study was undertaken to evaluate the prevalence of hypolactasia and lactose intolerance in three different ethnic populations living in similar environmental conditions in Malaysia. The correlation between different symptoms and lactose intolerance test was also studied. METHODS: A total of 300 Malaysian subjects from three different ethnic populations: Malays, Chinese and Indians (100 volunteers in each group, 18-49 yr old working or studying in a University) were included. Urine galactose excretion and gastrointestinal symptoms were measured after lactose intake (50 g). RESULTS: Based on galactose excretion, 88 per cent of the Malays, 91 per cent of the Chinese and 83 per cent of the Indians were hypolactasic. The differences were statistically not significant. When the symptoms were also considered, prevalence of lactose intolerance appeared to be significantly lowest among the Indians. When the subjects were divided into low, middle and high galactose excretion groups some correlation was found between the symptoms and galactose excretion. INTERPRETATION & CONCLUSION: There was no clear association between hypolactasia and gastrointestinal symptoms in all the study groups. However, the lactose intolerance was high in all the study groups indicating the increasing demand for low lactose dairy products in the Asian countries.
BACKGROUND & OBJECTIVES: Prevalence of adult-type hypolactasia is known to vary among different countries and in different ethnic populations in the same country. The present study was undertaken to evaluate the prevalence of hypolactasia and lactose intolerance in three different ethnic populations living in similar environmental conditions in Malaysia. The correlation between different symptoms and lactose intolerance test was also studied. METHODS: A total of 300 Malaysian subjects from three different ethnic populations: Malays, Chinese and Indians (100 volunteers in each group, 18-49 yr old working or studying in a University) were included. Urine galactose excretion and gastrointestinal symptoms were measured after lactose intake (50 g). RESULTS: Based on galactose excretion, 88 per cent of the Malays, 91 per cent of the Chinese and 83 per cent of the Indians were hypolactasic. The differences were statistically not significant. When the symptoms were also considered, prevalence of lactose intolerance appeared to be significantly lowest among the Indians. When the subjects were divided into low, middle and high galactose excretion groups some correlation was found between the symptoms and galactose excretion. INTERPRETATION & CONCLUSION: There was no clear association between hypolactasia and gastrointestinal symptoms in all the study groups. However, the lactose intolerance was high in all the study groups indicating the increasing demand for low lactose dairy products in the Asian countries.
Authors: Jessica G Woo; M Lourdes Guerrero; Guillermo M Ruiz-Palacios; Yong-mei Peng; Patricia M Herbers; Wen Yao; Hilda Ortega; Barbara S Davidson; Robert J McMahon; Ardythe L Morrow Journal: J Nutr Date: 2012-12-12 Impact factor: 4.798
Authors: Marlena C Kruger; Yoke Mun Chan; Lee Ting Lau; Chin Chin Lau; Yit Siew Chin; Barbara Kuhn-Sherlock; Joanne M Todd; Linda M Schollum Journal: Eur J Nutr Date: 2017-10-03 Impact factor: 5.614
Authors: Chin Yi Chan; Shaanthana Subramaniam; Kok-Yong Chin; Soelaiman Ima-Nirwana; Norliza Muhammad; Ahmad Fairus; Abdul Manaf Mohd Rizal; Pei Yuen Ng; Jamil Nor Aini; Noorazah Abd Aziz; Norazlina Mohamed Journal: Int J Environ Res Public Health Date: 2019-05-20 Impact factor: 3.390