Beta-galactosidase (lactase) allows the digestion of lactose as its co
mponent sugars, galactose and glucose. Considerable variation exists w
orldwide in the prevalence of adults who lose the ability to digest la
ctose after infancy (hypolactasia) as well as in the amount of milk pr
oducts they consume. Clearly, those populations in which hypolactasia
is infrequent and milk consumption high will have greater dietary expo
sure to galactose. Because there is clinical and experimental evidence
that galactose may be toxic to ovarian germ cells, the authors sought
to determine whether age-specific fertility rates in various countrie
s correlate with the prevalence of adult hypolactasia and per capita m
ilk consumption by analysis of published data on these variables. The
authors found significant correlations among these variables such that
fertility at older ages is lower and the decline in fertility with ag
ing is steeper in populations with high per capita consumption of milk
and greater ability to digest its lactose component. These demographi
c data add to existing evidence that dietary galactose may deleterious
ly affect ovarian function.