Developer site: The content shown here is test data.

MyEClinic
MyEClinic
Health Dictionary AI Health Chat Find an Online Doctor
A serene Zen garden with raked sand and smooth stones, symbolising clarity and calm

Health Dictionary

Reliable, easy-to-read patient information on common medical conditions — written in plain language, free of jargon, and grounded in current evidence. Browse the most frequent diagnoses, understand what they mean for everyday life, and learn which steps and questions help you have a focused conversation with your doctor.

Back to skin conditions

Lactose intolerance historical perspective

Introduction

Overview

Overview

Lactose intolerance was first discovered by Hippocrate, the ancient Greek physician 2500 years ago. In 1906, Pimmer discovered lactase enzyme in the intestine of infant dogs, pigs, and rats. The association between the ethnicity and lactose intolerance was discovered in 1966 by Bayless and Rosensweig. In 1978, breath hydrogen test was used by Levitt to diagnose lactose intolerance.

Historical Perspective

Historical Perspective

Discovery

  • Lactose intolerance was first discovered by Hippocrate, the ancient Greek physician 2500 years ago.[1]
  • In 1906, Pimmer was the first scientist to discover lactase enzyme in the intestine of infant dogs, pigs, and rats. He also found that this enzyme decreased in the adult intestine of these animals.[1]
  • In 1959, Durand and Holzei et al decribed congenital lactase deficiency[1]
  • The association between the ethnicity and lactose intolerance was discovered in 1966 by Bayless and Rosensweig and in 1968 by Neale.
  • In the early 1970s, lactase-phlorizin hydrolase (LPH) gene mutations were first implicated in the pathogenesis of lactose intolerance.[2]
  • In 1978, breath hydrogen test was used by Levitt to diagnose lactose intolerance[3]
References

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 Neale G (1973). “The geographical incidence of lactase deficiency”. Pathol Microbiol (Basel). 39 (3): 238–47. PMID 4718561.
  2. ↑ Enattah NS, Sahi T, Savilahti E, Terwilliger JD, Peltonen L, Järvelä I (2002). “Identification of a variant associated with adult-type hypolactasia”. Nat. Genet. 30 (2): 233–7. doi:10.1038/ng826. PMID 11788828.
  3. ↑ Rana SV, Malik A (2014). “Hydrogen breath tests in gastrointestinal diseases”. Indian J Clin Biochem. 29 (4): 398–405. doi:10.1007/s12291-014-0426-4. PMC 4175689. PMID 25298621.

Editor-In-Chief: C. Michael Gibson, M.S., M.D. [1]; Associate Editor(s)-in-Chief: Mahda Alihashemi M.D. [2]