LACTOSE MALABSORPTION IN GREENLAND ESKIMOS

• Published in: Acta Medica Scandinavica
• Main Authors: Gudmand‐Høyer, E., Jarnum, Stig
• Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
• Language: English
• Published: Wiley 1969
• Subjects: eskimo*; Greenland
• Online Access: http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/j.0954-6820.1969.tb01470.x; https://api.wiley.com/onlinelibrary/tdm/v1/articles/10.1111%2Fj.0954-6820.1969.tb01470.x; https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/pdf/10.1111/j.0954-6820.1969.tb01470.x

Abstract The incidence of lactose malabsorption in 32 Greenland Eskimos has been studied by means of sugar tolerance tests and, in nine cases, determination of disaccharidase activity in jejunal biopsies. Twenty‐three (72%) had lactose malabsorption. If seven Eskimos with a Danish ancestor are excluded, the incidence of lactose malabsorption is 88% (22 of 25). Lactose malabsorption seems to be a distinctive racial feature in Eskimos. Clinical signs of lactose malabsorption were rare, but so was milk consumption in general. However, clinical reactions to lactose ingestion during a lactose tolerance test were less pronounced than in lactasedeficient white patients.