Prevalence of Lactose Malabsorption in a Finnish Rural Population

Abstract

Jussila, J., Isokoski, M. & Launiala, Kari. 1970. Prevalence of Lactose Malabsorption in a Finnish Rural Population. Scand. J. Gastroent. 5, 49-56.

Lactose absorption was examined in randomly selected 21 to 65 year old inhabitants of a Finnish rural community. The series were representative of the whole population as regards sex, age, and milk drinking. Lactose malabsorption was found in 17.6 % of the 159 subjects examined and selective lactose malabsorption (SLM) in 17 %. The occurrence of SLM was not dependent on age or sex. After a statistical correction the prevalence of SLM among the randomly selected 248 subjects was estimated to be 15 %. The screening of SLM seemed to be of actual practical significance to 7 % of a Finnish rural population.

Key-words:

• Intestine, small
• lactose
• malabsorption syndromes