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Lactose intolerance: diagnosis, genetic, and clinical factors

Authors Rejane Mattar R, Mazo DFDC, Carrilho FJ

Received 29 March 2012

Accepted for publication 17 May 2012

Published 5 July 2012 Volume 2012:5 Pages 113—121

DOI https://doi.org/10.2147/CEG.S32368

Review by Single anonymous peer review

Peer reviewer comments 4



Rejane Mattar, Daniel Ferraz de Campos Mazo, Flair José Carrilho

Department of Gastroenterology, University of São Paulo School of Medicine, São Paulo, Brazil

Abstract: Most people are born with the ability to digest lactose, the major carbohydrate in milk and the main source of nutrition until weaning. Approximately 75% of the world's population loses this ability at some point, while others can digest lactose into adulthood. This review discusses the lactase-persistence alleles that have arisen in different populations around the world, diagnosis of lactose intolerance, and its symptomatology and management.

Keywords: hypolactasia, lactase persistence, lactase non-persistence, lactose, LCT gene, MCM6 gene

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