LACTOSE DIGESTION AND TOLERANCE IN ADULT AND ELDERLY ASIAN-AMERICANS

Twenty adult (20-40-y old) and 20 elderly (greater than or equal to 65 -y old) Asian-Americans subjects were evaluated for baseline lactose c onsumption, fecal beta-galactosidase activity, and lactose maldigestio n to determine whether there were differences in lactose metabolism an d tolerance between these groups. Fasted subjects consumed a challenge dose of 0.5 g lactose/kg body wt. Breath-hydrogen production and symp toms were monitored. There were no statistically significant differenc es in total hydrogen production (P < 0.6), flatulence (P < 0.6), or fe cal beta-galactosidase activity between the two groups. Fecal beta-gal actosidase activity did not correlate with prior lactose consumption. The shape of the breath-hydrogen curves suggests a slightly delayed tr ansit in the elderly subjects, but apparently this delay was insuffici ent to alter tolerance. Thus, the findings suggest that these two grou ps do not differ in their metabolism and tolerance of lactose.