FDA Approves a Statin Therapy for Some

Abstract

avoid dairy products. In addition to the obvious concerns about bone health, the panel noted that recent research has linked increased calcium intake with reduced blood pressure, a lower risk of adenomatous colon polyps, and higher production of such fatty acids as butyrate that may promote mucosal growth and reduce inflammation. Daniel Swagerty, MD, MPH, professor of family medicine and internal medicine at the University of Kansas School of Medicine in Kansas City, said the panel’s work points out the importance of patients receiving a proper diagnosis from a physician rather than just assuming theyhave lactose intoleranceandsubsequently avoiding dairy products. “A significant number of people are denying themselves food and supplements they should have, and that’s a real risk in terms of lifelong health and wellness,” said Swagerty, who was not part of the conference. Nicholas Talley, MD, a gastroenterologist who is chair of internal medicine at the Mayo Clinic in Jacksonville, Fla, echoed the panel’s concerns about the scarcity of data on the prevalence of lactose intolerance and the potential health risks of avoiding dairy products that are rich in calcium and vitamin D. “As a researcher and a clinician, I’d like to know how many of my patients have lactose intolerance,” said Talley, who also was not involved with the panel’s work. “But the real question is not just what’s the prevalence of lactase deficiency, but what’s the prevalence of clinically relevant lactose intolerance and the prevalence of complications of lactose intolerance from the lack of dietary factors. That’s what we don’t know.”