Relay-Version: version B 2.10 5/3/83; site utzoo.UUCP
Path: utzoo!watmath!clyde!burl!ulysses!allegra!mit-eddie!think!harvard!cmcl2!philabs!aecom!werner
From: werner@aecom.UUCP (Craig Werner)
Newsgroups: net.med
Subject: The fallacy of Milk intolerance.
Message-ID: <2283@aecom.UUCP>
Date: Thu, 27-Feb-86 00:47:06 EST
Article-I.D.: aecom.2283
Posted: Thu Feb 27 00:47:06 1986
Date-Received: Sat, 1-Mar-86 17:17:45 EST
References: <401@cuuxb.UUCP> <685@osiris.UUCP>
Distribution: net
Organization: Albert Einstein Coll. of Med., NY
Lines: 17


	The so-called phenonemon of 'Milk (lactose) intolerance' is actually
more correctly called 'Syndrome of Lactase Non-persistence.'
	Lactase, the enzyme involved in breaking down milk sugar, normally
diminishes after puberty to 10-20% of childhood levels by 18, sometimes
less, but rarely totally dissapears.  This is true for almost the entire
population of the Earth except Northern Europeans, who retain the enzyme
all their life (lucky them).
	True 'Milk (Lactose) Intolerance' should only correctly be connected
to the syndrome of total absence of the enzyme at birth, or of a related set
of enzymes involved in Galactose metabolism (Lac = Galactose + Glucose).

-- 

				Craig Werner
				!philabs!aecom!werner
I'll also entertain gifts,knick-knacks,offers of money, & proposals of marriage