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Association between celiac disease and primary lactase deficiency

European Journal of Clinical Nutrition volume 66, pages 1364–1365 (2012)Cite this article

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Abstract

Primary lactase deficiency (PLD) is a common inherited condition caused by a reduced activity of lactase. Two single-nucleotide polymorphisms C/T-13910 and G/A-22018 upstream of the lactase gene are associated with lactase nonpersistence. In celiac disease (CD) patients, lactose intolerance could be due to secondary lactase deficiency and to PLD. The aim of this study were to evaluate the association of PLD and CD using genetic test, and to define the prevalence of PLD in celiac subjects compared with a control population. A total of 188 controls and 92 biopsy-proven CD patients were included in the study. More than 70% of all subjects were found homozygous for the polymorphisms. Differences in the prevalence of PLD were not found between CD patients and controls.In conclusions, the hereditary lactase deficiency is frequent in Italian CD children as in control population.

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Author notes

  1. M S Basso and R Luciano: These authors contributed equally to this work.

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Hepatology, Gastroenterology and Nutrition Unit, Pediatric Hospital Bambino Gesu’, Rome, Italy

    M S Basso, F Ferretti, F Panetta, F Bracci & A Diamanti

  2. Department of Laboratory Medicine, Pediatric Hospital Bambino Gesu’, Rome, Italy

    R Luciano, M Muraca & S Ottino

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  1. M S Basso
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  2. R Luciano
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  3. F Ferretti
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  4. M Muraca
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  5. F Panetta
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  6. F Bracci
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  7. S Ottino
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  8. A Diamanti
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Correspondence to M S Basso.

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Basso, M., Luciano, R., Ferretti, F. et al. Association between celiac disease and primary lactase deficiency. Eur J Clin Nutr 66, 1364–1365 (2012). https://doi.org/10.1038/ejcn.2012.153

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/ejcn.2012.153

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