Only a Third of the World’s Adults Can Digest Milk



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3 responses to “Only a Third of the World’s Adults Can Digest Milk

  1. That is fascinating information about the AP allele mutation. I found it interesting that amylase developed well after grain was introduced as a food source. A genotype/phenotype study using different haplotype backgrounds (Eur/African) was performed to research lactase persistence using the LTT (Lactase Tolerance Test) where BG is tested after ingesting lactose. A rise of greater than 1.7 mM is classified as lactase persistent. A rise of less than 1.1 mM is classified as lactase non-persistent. In-between this is intermediate persistent. Those on a strict Paleo diet don’t really care, but it would be interesting to know if one wanted to indulge occasionally. (doi:101038/ng1946)

  2. Steve, why do you say lactose is a toxin if you can’t digest it? It’s soluble fiber! OK,
    it might be unpleasantly gassy like some other soluble fibers, but if you can’t digest it, at
    least it won’t raise blood glucose!

    • Hey, Jim.
      My writing was unclear. The “toxin” remark was a direct quote from the linked article, not my choice.
      I think of lactose not as a soluble fiber, but a dissacharide sugar (glucose plus galactose). But maybe I’m being too serious.