PEDIATRICS Vol. 56 No. 5 November 1975, pp. 718-721
This Article
Right arrow Full Text (PDF)
Right arrow P3Rs: Submit a response
Right arrow Alert me when this article is cited
Right arrow Alert me when P3Rs are posted
Right arrow Alert me if a correction is posted
Services
Right arrow E-mail this article to a friend
Right arrow Similar articles in this journal
Right arrow Similar articles in PubMed
Right arrow Alert me to new issues of the journal
Right arrow Add to My File Cabinet
Right arrow Download to citation manager
Right arrow reprints & permissions
Citing Articles
Right arrow Citing Articles via CrossRef
Right arrow Citing Articles via Google Scholar
Google Scholar
Right arrow Articles by Mitchell, K. J.
Right arrow Articles by Huang, S.-S.
Right arrow Search for Related Content
PubMed
Right arrow PubMed Citation
Right arrow Articles by Mitchell, K. J.
Right arrow Articles by Huang, S.-S.

Intolerance of Eight Ounces of Milk in Healthy Lactose-Intolerant Teen-Agers

Keiffer J. Mitchell M.D.1, Theodore M. Bayless M.D.1, David M. Paige M.D., M.P.H.1, Richard W. Goodgame M.D.1, and Shi-Shung Huang M.D.1

1 Departments of Medicine and Pediatrics, Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, the Comprehensive Care Clinic of the Greater Baltimore Medical Center, the Department of Maternal and Child Health, Johns Hopkins University School of Hygiene and Public Health, and the Johns Hopkins Hospital, Baltimore, Maryland

The ability of lactose-intolerant individuals to tolerate 8 ounces of milk was determined in healthy teenagers. Thirty-two blacks were studied with 50-gm lactose tolerance tests. Nineteen (59%) had a flat blood sugar curve and 13 (39%) also developed bloating, cramps, loose stools, or diarrhea with the test. These latter 13 were defined as lactose-intolerant.

Seven of the 13 lactose-intolerant teen-agers (54%) developed abdominal bloating and/or cramps after drinking 8 ounces of milk (half-pint). None had diarrhea. Eight were symptomatic with the equivalent amount of lactose (12 gm) while only one had symptoms with the monosaccharide components of lactose, glucose and galactose. The symptoms with milk and 12 gm of lactose were less severe than with the 50-gm tolerance test. A history of a prior awareness of milk intolerance was obtained from 11 of the 13 lactose-intolerant subjects.

At least one haLf of lactose intolerant teen-agers might be expected to be symptomatic after drinking 8 ounces of milk without other food.

Milk intolerance should be considered in the nutritional planning for teen-agers with special attention to members of population groups with a high prevalence of lactose intolerance.

Submitted on August 12, 1974
Accepted on December 17, 1974