High Frequency of Lactase Activity Deficiencyin Small Bowel of Adults in the Neapolitan Area

Abstract

Disaccharidase activities (lactase, palatinase, sucrase, maltase) were determined in samples of jejunal mucosa obtained by peroral biopsy, in nine healthy Neapolitan adults. All studied subjects were found to have isolated lactase deficiency. The lactose load induced diarrhoea and bloating with acid stools; the bloodglucose curve was flat. On the contrary, tolerance tests with glucose plus galactose gave normal results.