RECURRENT ABDOMINAL-PAIN AND LACTOSE ABSORPTION IN CHILDREN

  • 1 January 1981
    • journal article
    • research article
    • Vol. 67  (6) , 828-832
Abstract
The association of lactase deficiency with recurrent abdominal pain was investigated. White children (103), aged 6-14 yr with recurrent abdominal pain were evaluated; 69 underwent lactose tolerance tests and 26 had intestinal biopsies with lactase determinations; 21 of 69 (30.4%) had abnormal lactose tolerance tests and 8 of 26 (31%) were lactase-deficient. However, 16 of 61 (26.4%) control subjects matched for age and ethnic background exhibited lactase deficiency. Thus, a similar prevalence of lactase deficiency was found in the control and the recurrent abdominal pain groups. A total of 38 patients with recurrent abdominal pain completed 3 successive 6-wk diet trials conducted in a double-blind fashion. An increase above base-line value in pain frequency was seen in 10 of 21 (48%) lactose malabsorbers and 4 of 17 (24%) lactose absorbers. After a 12-mo. milk elimination diet, 6 of 15 (40%) malabsorbers and 5 of 13 (38%) absorbers had elimination of their pain. This result compared with improvement occurring in 5 of 12 (42%) absorbers with recurrent abdominal pain who received a regular diet for 1 yr and suggests that the elimination of lactose will not affect the overall frequency of improvement in recurrent abdominal pain. The recovery rate from recurrent abdominal pain is similar in both lactose absorbers and nonabsorbers independent of dietary restrictions.