The Importance of Lactose in the Human Diet:Outcomes of a Mexican Consensus Meeting

Lactose is a unique component of breast milk, many infant formulas and dairy products, and is widely used in pharmaceutical products. In spite of that, its role in human nutrition or lactose intolerance is generally not well-understood. For that reason, a 2-day-long lactose consensus meeting with health care professionals was organized in Mexico to come to a set of statements for which consensus could be gathered. Topics ranging from lactase expression to potential health benefits of lactose were introduced by experts, and that was followed by a discussion on concept statements. Interestingly, lactose does not seem to induce a neurological reward response when consumed. Although lactose digestion is optimal, it supplies galactose for liver glycogen synthesis. In infants, it cannot be ignored that lactose-derived galactose is needed for the synthesis of glycosylated macromolecules. At least beyond infancy, the low glycemic index of lactose might be metabolically beneficial. When lactase expression decreases, lactose maldigestion may lead to lactose intolerance symptoms. In infancy, the temporary replacing of lactose by other carbohydrates is only justified in case of severe intolerance symptoms. In those who show an (epi)genetic decrease or absence of lactase expression, a certain amount (for adults mostly up to 12 g per portion) of lactose can still be consumed. In these cases, lactose shows beneficial intestinal-microbiota-shaping effects. Avoiding lactose-containing products may imply a lower intake of other important nutrients, such as calcium and vitamin B-12 from dairy products, as well as an increased intake of less beneficial carbohydrates

Acumulación de masa ósea medida por DEXA periférica en niños mexicanos sanos de entre 6 a 12 años de edad Bone mass accretion in healthy Mexican 6 to 12 year-olds measured by DEXA

OBJETIVO:Conocer la densidad mineral ósea (DMO), evaluada a través de DEXA periférica, ajustada por sexo, en una muestra de escolares mexicanos sanos de entre 6 a 12 años de edad. MATERIAL Y MÉTODOS: Estudio transversal efectuado en 1 965 escolares (982 masculinos), seleccionados de forma aleatoria en la Ciudad de México en 2006 y 2007. Se aplicó estadística descriptiva para variables nominales o categóricas y numéricas. RESULTADOS:La curva de cambio de la DMO en niñas muestra dos etapas: un crecimiento lineal (entre los 6 a 9 años de edad) y uno exponencial (a partir de los 10 años), mientras que en los niños las tasas de crecimiento son menos pronunciadas. CONCLUSIONES:Las intervenciones para mejorar la DMO y el pico máximo de masa ósea deben realizarse entre los 6 a los 12 años de edad.OBJECTIVE:To describe bone mass density in a group of healthy 6 to 12 year-old Mexican children by a peripheral DEXA, adjusted for gender. MATERIAL AND METHODS: A cross-sectional study between 2006 and 2007 conducted in 1 965 children (982 male), without any medical condition, randomized from elementary schools in Mexico City. RESULTS:Changes in bone mineral density in girls show two phases: a lineal accretion (6-9 years) and an exponential curve (10 years and older); in boys these growth rates are less pronounced. CONCLUSIONS:It is considered that optimal interventions to improve bone mass density and peak bone mass should be performed between 6 to 12 years of age