Is lactose malabsorption a risk factor in fractures of the elderly?

The prevalence of lactose malabsorption (LM) was determined by lactose tolerance tests in 18 women with spinal fragility fractures and 28 women with hip fractures and compared with 35 female controls of the same ethnic background. The association of LM with bone density in the spine, bone mineral density in the distal radius and histomorphometric values of iliac crest biopsies was also evaluated. The prevalence of LM did not differ between the fracture groups and the control subjects. Patients with LM did not differ from those with normal lactose tolerance with regard to bone densitometry or histomorphometric findings in iliac crest biopsies. These results suggest that in Finland LM is not a risk factor for osteopenic fractures in the elderly.