Abstract
Bolin and Davis1 have reported a lactase deficiency in non-Caucasians. There is an increasing interest in lactase and it could be important to have our baselines correct. Western communities now live on comparatively high protein diets. We tend to think that we are meat eaters, but in fact the figures published by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations in 1966 illustrate that a large proportion of our animal protein comes from milk (Table 1). Although some African minority groups use milk as adults, most non-Caucasians use insignificant amounts, relying largely on cereals or fish. They will, however, drink their mothers' milk for perhaps the first 9–24 months of life and presumably have adequate lactase during this period.
Similar content being viewed by others
Article PDF
References
Bolin, T. D., and Davis, A. E., Nature, 222, 382 (1969).
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
CRAWFORD, M. Lactase Deficiency. Nature 223, 742 (1969). https://doi.org/10.1038/223742a0
Received:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/223742a0
Comments
By submitting a comment you agree to abide by our Terms and Community Guidelines. If you find something abusive or that does not comply with our terms or guidelines please flag it as inappropriate.