Trehalase Deficiency in Greenland

Abstract

Small-intestinal surgical biopsy specimens from 97 adult Greenlanders showed an incidence of trehalase deficiency in at least 8%. Trehalose tolerance tests performed in three individuals with low trehalase activity (6 IU/g protein) showed no increase in the blood glucose concentration. Three trehalase-deficient patients had lactase deficiency too. Trehalase deficiency is not considered to have any significance from a nutritional point of view.