HYPOLACTASIA AND METABOLIC CHANGES IN POSTMENOPAUSAL WOMEN

Objectives: The aims of the study were to evaluate the prevalence of h ypolactasia in a group of post-menopausal in Southern Italy, and to re late hypolactasia to possible changes occurring in biochemical indicat ors of carbohydrate and fat metabolism as well as in biochemical marke rs of bone metabolism. Methods: Fifty postmenopausal women entered the study. Lactose malabsorbers were identified by breath hydrogen test. The kinetics of D-xylose was evaluated by a graphic-mathematical analy sis after oral administration of a solution of 10 g of D-xylose in wat er. Serum glucose, insulin, C-peptide, cholesterol and triglycerides w ere assayed by commercial kits. The evaluation of dietary habits and p hysical activities was performed by a questionnaire. The assessment of bone turnover was obtained by measuring osteocalcin, serum alkaline p hosphatase, calcium, phosphorus, and urinary hydroxyproline and urinar y calcium expressed as a ratio of urinary creatinine. Results: Twenty- six of 50 women showed hypolactasia. Significant differences were foun d in serum levels of insulin, glucose, and triglycerides, which were l ower in malabsorbers than lactose absorbers, and in HDL-cholesterol le vels which were higher in the first group than in the second. As regar ds bone turnover, dietary habits or lactose intake, there were no sign ificant differences between the two groups. Conclusions: The significa nt differences found in serum levels of glucose, triglycerides, and HD L-cholesterol between lactose absorbers and malabsorbers may be imputa ble to the low or absent lactase activity which does not allow the who le amount of lactose in the small bowel of malabsorbers to be metaboli zed. Moreover, changes in lactose absorbing capacity of intestinal muc osa did not modify the intake of milk or its by-products in malabsorbe rs as demonstrated by the analysis of food. (C) 1997 Elsevier Science Ireland Ltd.