An estimated 65%-70% of the world's population has lactose intolerance. It most commonly presents in adolescents and young adults. Men and women are equally affected by lactose intolerance, but nearly half of adult women who are lactose intolerant regain the ability to digest lactose during pregnancy. This is probably due to slow intestinal transit and bacterial adaptation during pregnancy. Lactose intolerance is least prevalent among individuals of European descent and most common among African American, Hispanics/Latinx, and Asian persons. In White individuals, the LCT-13910C>T gene variant is associated with a lower plasma 25(OH)D concentration.
Learn more about the etiology and epidemiology of lactose intolerance.
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Cite this: B.S. Anand. Fast Five Quiz: Lactose Intolerance - Medscape - Mar 21, 2022.
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