Department of Food Sciences, Faculty of Science and Technology, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia, 43600, Bangi, Selangor, Malaysia.
Centre of Nutrition and Dietetic, Faculty of Health Science, Universiti Teknologi MARA, 42300, Puncak Alam, Selangor, Malaysia.
Arch Osteoporos. 2021 Jan 15;16(1):14. doi: 10.1007/s11657-020-00874-6.
Lactose intolerance has been proposed to cause poor bone health. This study found the prevalence of lactose intolerance was high among Malaysian young adults, but not associated with bone health status, unlike calcium intake. This is the first study that investigated the association of lactose intolerance and bone health status in Malaysia.
The aims of this study were to determine the prevalence of lactose intolerance, calcium intake and physical activity level and to investigate the association between these variables with bone health status among young adults.
This cross-sectional study consisted of 300 Malay, Chinese and Indian students from Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia with mean age of 22.5 ± 3.2 years. Determination of lactose tolerance status was performed using hydrogen breath test, lactose tolerance test and visual analogue scales. Calcium intake and physical activity level were evaluated using Food Frequency Questionnaire and International Physical Activity Questionnaire, respectively. Bone health status was assessed on calcaneal bone, using quantitative ultrasound.
Lactose intolerance was highly reported among the Malay subjects (72%) followed by Chinese (59%) and Indians (42%). The mean calcium intake was 542.9 ± 365.2 mg/day whilst the mean physical activity was 2757.6 ± 2007.2 MET-min/week. The bone assessment showed that 91% of the subjects had a low risk of developing osteoporosis. Only calcium intake showed a significant association with bone health status (β = 0.006; p = 0.033), whilst no association was shown for lactose intolerance and physical activity level.
Malaysian young adults showed a high prevalence of lactose intolerance. Calcium intake is associated with increased bone health status. In contrast, lactose intolerance and physical activity level did not directly influence bone health status. Nutrition education promoting adequate calcium intake should be implemented among young adults due to high lactose intolerance prevalence and low calcium intake among subjects.
本研究旨在确定乳糖不耐受、钙摄入量和身体活动水平的患病率，并探讨这些变量与马来西亚年轻成年人骨健康状况之间的关系。
本横断面研究纳入了马来西亚国民大学的 300 名马来人、华人及印度裔学生，平均年龄为 22.5±3.2 岁。采用氢呼气试验、乳糖耐量试验和视觉模拟评分法来确定乳糖耐受状况。通过食物频率问卷和国际体力活动问卷分别评估钙摄入量和身体活动水平。采用定量超声技术评估跟骨的骨健康状况。
马来裔受试者（72%）报告乳糖不耐受的比例最高，其次是华族（59%）和印度裔（42%）。平均钙摄入量为 542.9±365.2mg/天，平均身体活动量为 2757.6±2007.2MET-min/周。骨评估显示，91%的受试者骨质疏松风险较低。只有钙摄入量与骨健康状况呈显著相关（β=0.006；p=0.033），而乳糖不耐受和身体活动水平与骨健康状况无关联。
马来西亚年轻成年人乳糖不耐受的患病率较高。钙摄入量与骨健康状况增加有关。相反，乳糖不耐受和身体活动水平不会直接影响骨健康状况。由于受试者中乳糖不耐受的高患病率和钙摄入量低，应向年轻成年人开展营养教育，以促进充足的钙摄入。
