Trehalase deficiency in Greenland

  • Scand J Gastroenterol. 1988 Sep;23(7):775-8. doi: 10.3109/00365528809090759.
E Gudmand-Høyer  1 ,  H J Fenger ,  H Skovbjerg ,  P Kern-Hansen ,  P R Madsen
Affiliations
  • 1. Medical-Gastroenterological Dept. F, Gentofte Hospital, University of Copenhagen, Denmark.
PMID: 3227291 DOI: 10.3109/00365528809090759
Abstract

Small-intestinal surgical biopsy specimens from 97 adult Greenlanders showed an incidence of trehalase deficiency in at least 8%. Trehalose tolerance tests performed in three individuals with low trehalase activity (6 IU/g protein) showed no increase in the blood glucose concentration. Three trehalase-deficient patients had lactase deficiency too. Trehalase deficiency is not considered to have any significance from a nutritional point of view.