Letters to the Editors: High frequency of MCM6 lactose intolerance genotype in Polynesian People

Abstract

SIRS, Lactose intolerance is characterized by abdominal pain, bloating, flatulence and diarrhoea and arises from a decreased capacity of lactase within the small intestine to metabolize lactose after weaning. We read with interest the review of Lomer et al., which highlights the variation in lactose intolerance frequency observed across populations of different ethnic origin. Almost 100% of Southeast Asians are lactose intolerant compared with 5% of British Caucasians. A gain-offunction single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) (-13910C>T; rs4988235) within the minichromosome maintence-6 gene (MCM6), is believed to be responsible for lactose tolerance by maintaining expression of the lactase gene. 3 Polynesians of New Zealand and the South Pacific (M aori and Pacific Island people) are understood to have migrated from the islands around Taiwan. This fact, together with