Health Service Handbook
QUESTION: While I was at home
for vacation, my sister told me she is
lactose-intolerant. Can you explain
what this means?
ANSWER: Your sister is deficient
in an enzyme, called lactase, which
resides in the small intestine and is
necessary for the digestion' of lac-
tose. Lactose is the sugar in milk
and milk products, such as cheese,
and foods made with, milk, such as
pudding. It is estimated that more
than 30 million people in the United
States, as well as many more of the
world's adult population, are
deficient in the lactase enzyme.
This deficiency is more prevalent
in certain groups: about 70 percent
of blacks, 95 prcent of Orientals, and
between 60 and 90 percent of North
and South American Indians,
Mexican Americans, Jews and
others with roots in Eastern and
Central Europe and the
Mediterranean countries have this
deficiency.
Only about 10 to 15 percent of
whites of Northwestern European or
Scandinavian origin lack this en-
zyme. This deficiency is genetically
determined and is thought by some
to have a correlationhwith the
amount of milk that has historically
beenm produced in these regions.
Most healthy infants are born with
the lactase enzyme, but it gradually
begins to fade and disappear in
adolescence (or sometimes later) in
those who are genetically inclined
toward the deficiency.
The symptoms of lactose-
intolerance are abdominal bloating,
gas, cramps and watery diarrhea.
(Of course, these symptoms may be
caused by other things as well.) The
diarrhea occurs because the presen-
ce of undigested lactose causes large
amounts of water to be drawn into
the intestines so that the lactose may
be carried out of the system.
The other symptoms, especially
gas, occur when bacteria in the in-
testine react with the non-absorbed
lactose.
MANY PEOPLE (perhaps two-
thirds) who are lactose-intolerant
are aware of it. That is, they have
made the connection between the
ingestion of milk and milk products
and the resulting discomfort, and
choose to avoid these foods. Othes
continue to consume them without
realizing they have this condition.
Perhaps your sister self-diagnosed
her condition by cutting out milk and
noticing the disappearance of. sym-
ptoms, or perhaps she went to a
physician who made the diagnosis.
The amount of milk that needs to
be consumed for this intestinal reac-
tion to occur varies from person to
person. Most, but not all, lactose-
intolerant people are able to tolerate
small amounts of milk, such as the
amount in coffee or cereal. Others
can even tolerate considerably more
before distressing symptoms occur.
Some lactase-deficient people find
that certain milk products, such as
some hard cheeses, sour cream and
yogurt, are less irritating to their
systems.
Yogurt is a milk product that has
received a lot of publicity for being
lactose-free (because the "friendly"
bacteria, Lactobacillus bulgaricus
and Streptococcus thermosphilus
that are in the yogurt act upon the
lactose and break it down into lactic
acid). However, not all of the lactose
gets completely converted into lac-
tic aciI by this fermentation
process.
According to Dannon Milk
Products, which makes Dannon
Yogurt, the lactose content of their
yogurt mix usually averages 8.5
percent but decreases after fermen-
tation to aound 5.75 percent. Other
commercially-prepared yogurts
may contain considerably more lac-
tose than this if pasteurization oc-
curs after, not before, the bacterial
cultures are added. This process
destroys the bacteria and prevents
any lactose breakdown that would
have occurred.
Whether these amounts of lactose
that remain in the yogurt cause ad-
verse reactions in your sister depen-
ds on the relative degree of her lac-
tose intolerance and the type of
yogurt she consumes.
If your sister makes her own
yogurt (and her recipe reasonably
guarantees that the bacterical
cultures are not destroyed in the
process), you might suggest that she
pour off the clear to yellowish liquid
(called whey) that floats on the top.
This liquid may contain a large per-
centage of the residual lactose not
broken down by the bacteria.
* * *
QUESTION: Do you have any
idea why sometimes when you're
eating ice cream you get a weird
feeling in your forehead?
ANSWER: Many neurologists be-
lieve that this feeling comes about
when extremes of cold, heat or
pressure is registered by the
trigeminal nerve.
This nerve is located in the cheek
but fans out to both the chin and jaw
area and the temples. Hence, the
feeling in your forehead that you
have described. Luckily, as you may
have noticed, this pain goes away in
about 10 or 15 seconds.
This is a regular weekly feature
provided by the Health Educator,
University of Michigan Health
Service.
Court splits on
gun-toting aw
LANSING (UPI) - A hopelessly
deadlocked Court of Appeals has asked
the Michigan Supreme Court to decide
the constitutionality of a 1977 statute
which sends gun-toting criminals to
prison for an additional two years.
A computer check in April by correc-
tions officials showed 439 convicts had
been sentenced to longer prison terms
as a result of the law, which went into
effect Jan. 1, 1977.
Chief Judge Robert Danhof said
yesterday various three-judge panels of
the appeals court split almost evenly on
the question of whether the statute is
constitutional.
At issue is whether the law amounts
to double jeopardy.
CONVICTS challenging the statute
claimed they were, in effect, tried twice
on the same charges since elements in-
cluded in one offense were also in the
felony firearm charge - such as armed
robbery and use of a firearm in the per-
petration of a crime.
Since the effective date of the law,
there has been no uniformity in inter-
pretation of either the constitutionality.
or application by trial court judges, the
appeals court said.
The split among appeals court judges
allow the question to go directly to the
supreme court.
THE APPEALS court, deadlock
evolved from opinions in 10 separate
cases.
. The split, however, has not resulted
in the release of any convicted
criminals even though some convic-
tions were overturned.
The 1977 law imposes a two-year
penalty, in addition to any sentence im-
posed for the felony itself, on those con-
victed of crimes while in the possession'
of a gun.
The sentence cannot be suspended or
reduced by parole.
SECOND-TIME offenders draw an
automatic five-year added sentence
and three-time losers get socked with
an extra 10 years behind bars.
The state legislature touted the bill as
an avenue to deter violent crime.
The certainty* of punishment, they
said, would make potential criminals
think twice before carrying guns.
-IT'S A YOGURTHOG
SHEFFIELD, England (AP)-A man
out for a walk along a country road was
surprised to see a yogurt container
moving toward him in an unsteady,
wavering line.
On closer inspection, he found that a
hedgehog had poked his head inside the
carton to lick-it clean and then had been
unable to get out.
Do a Tree a Favor:
Recycle Your Daily
The Ann Arbor film Cooperative presents at MLB 4
FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 22
SHERLOCK HOLMES NIGHT
HOUND OF THE BASKERVILLES
(Sidney Lanfield; 1939) 7 & 10:20-MLB4
The incomparable BASIL RATHBONE as the incomparable Sherlock Holmes-the role he was born to play.
In this adaptation of Conan Doyle, the heods of the Baskerville family meet a gruesome end-seemingly
,ipped apart by a giant hound. Holmes deploys his powers of deduction to bottle a Fiend in Human shape, a
Hound of Hell, and the Great Grympen Moor. Without gun, whip, chair, or Liv-a-Snaps, can Holmes succeed?
You bet your deerstolker he can, with thrills, chills, and arcane lore galore. NIGEL BRUCE as Dr. Watson.
THE ADVENTURES OF SHERLOCK HOLMES
(Alfred Werker, 1939) :40 only-MLB4
"Watson, the game's afoot " This time Holmes must defend the Crown Jewels against a Fiend in Human
Shape. The pure light of Reason versus diabolic ingenuity, as Holmes whirls like a dervish in a paroxysm of
raised eyebrows, perfect elocution, and hilarious disguises. The music-hall turn alone is worth the ticket
price. BASIL RATHBONE (Holmes Incarnate), NIGEL BRUCE (cute 'n' cuddly), and a lovely, young IDA
LUPINO.
Tomorrow; Woody Allen's BANANAS & WHAT'S UP TIGER LILY?
ANN ARBOR CO-OP NEEDS NEW MEMBERS *** Ask for details at our showings.
t . i. .
19Q74
-a~w w... ...rnr'
t HS CLAIRE'S KNEE
A bachelor's well-ordered existence is upset by three charming women he meets
vacationing in a summer resort near the Swiss border. One of Rohmer's Series
of intriguing "Moral Tales" exploring the nature of the sexual drive. In French
(with subtitles). In bright summer in European colors: Starring JEAN CLAUDE
BRIALY.
SAT.: ANIMAL CRACKERS & DUCK SOUP
* CINEMA GUILD IS LOOKING FOR NEW MEMBERS- *
Applications at ticket desk-meeting Sept. 25
T
CINEMA GUILD
TONIGHT AT
7:00 & 9:05
OLD ARCH. AUD.
$1.50
Kenji Misumi's
LIGHTNING SWORDS OF DEATH
Described as the best of the B-Samurai films, Swords is a cine-
matic exposition of the Samurai code of honor with many well
choreographed scenes of swordplay. The film's climax pits the
hero and his baby boy, in a baby carriage/wagon, against
countless troops. Lots of catsup. With subtitles.
SATURDAY-Gene Wilder in WILLY WONKA & THE CHOCOLATE FACTORY.
SUNDAY-Hall's HERE COMES MR. JORDAN (Original of "Heaven Can Wait")
Schedule change-HERZOG DOCUMENTARIES on Tuesday, Sept. 26 (not 19th)
CINEMA II
TONIGHT
at &9
Angell Hall Aud. a
$1.50
' MEDIATRICS §
§ Friday, September 22-7, 8:45, 10:30