Abstract
Diseases which appear to be due to deficiencies of intestinal disaccharide hydrolases are being increasingly recognized in children and adults. Primary and secondary deficiencies of sugar-splitting enzymes have been differentiated, the former probably being genetically determined inborn errors. Secondary deficiencies may follow either anatomic or functional damage of cells within the intestinal wall. At present, treatment of disorders due to sugar-splitting enzymes consists only of omitting from the diet sugar which the organism is unable to absorb.