%0 Journal Article %T Lactose intolerance: diagnosis, genetic, and clinical factors %A Mattar R %A Mazo DF %A Carrilho FJ %J Clinical and Experimental Gastroenterology %D 2012 %I Dove Medical Press %X Rejane Mattar, Daniel Ferraz de Campos Mazo, Flair Jos¨¦ CarrilhoDepartment of Gastroenterology, University of S o Paulo School of Medicine, S o Paulo, BrazilAbstract: Most people are born with the ability to digest lactose, the major carbohydrate in milk and the main source of nutrition until weaning. Approximately 75% of the world's population loses this ability at some point, while others can digest lactose into adulthood. This review discusses the lactase-persistence alleles that have arisen in different populations around the world, diagnosis of lactose intolerance, and its symptomatology and management.Keywords: hypolactasia, lactase persistence, lactase non-persistence, lactose, LCT gene, MCM6 gene %U http://www.dovepress.com/lactose-intolerance-diagnosis-genetic-and-clinical-factors-a10308