American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, Vol 49, 377-384, Copyright © 1989 by The American Society for Clinical Nutrition, Inc

ORIGINAL RESEARCH COMMUNICATIONS

Calcium absorption from milk in lactase-deficient subjects

M Griessen, B Cochet, F Infante, A Jung, P Bartholdi, A Donath, E Loizeau and B Courvoisier
Division of Gastroenterology and Nutrition, University of Geneva Hospital and Geneva University, Switzerland.

Intestinal calcium absorption from milk containing lactose (+) and from another containing glucose (-) was studied in eight patients with normal lactase (NL) and seven lactase-deficient (LD) subjects to determine if lactase deficiency is implicated in Ca absorption. The results were compared with data obtained from Ca ingestion in a water solution. Ca absorption was measured by a double-isotope technique and the kinetic indices were obtained by a deconvolution method. With (-), Ca absorption was identical in NL and LD subjects and slightly higher than with water solution (15%, NS). With (+), Ca absorption in NL subjects was identical with that from water solution; in LD subjects it increased (23%, p less than 0.02). These data indicate that: Ca is absorbed equally well from milk as from water solution; (+) favors Ca absorption in LD subjects, which suggests that milk ingestion might be encouraged in LD subjects to avoid Ca deficiency; and (-) should be a valuable alternative for lactose-intolerant patients.