<<Disclaimer: Verify this information before applying it to your situation.>>

The tips of the villi in the small intestine are where we produce lactase,
which is what allows us to digest lactose. Hence most new celiacs who have
sustained damage to the villi (since the tips are first damaged) are
lactose intolerant, and some are allergic or intolerant to casein as well.
After a year or two of healing on the GF diet, some of these celiacs may
gain back the ability to digest lactose, but half of us will remain
intolerant to either/or lactose or casein.

Many people and docs seem to remain under the misapprehension that some
races, especially Aftricans and Asians, tend to be naturally lactose
intolerant. This is not true. Genetic lactose intolerance is present in
most races at about 18 percent -- though many may not know they are: they
just live with the bloat and so called "IBS." What actually happens is that
lactose intolerance in Asia and Aftrica are culturally caused: they quit
giving their children milk by at least the age of three, and those who do
not drink milk lose the ability to produce lactase -- though many of them
can gain it back if they are willing to put up with the discomfort for
three months or more.

But a study in the medical journal, Natural Genetics
http://genetics.nature.com featured in MedScape, tells us that when they
tested Finnish, Germans, French, South Koreans, North Americans and
African/Americans the 18 percent gene variance was present in the same
amount in each location.

-vance

Two dna variants associated with lactose intolerance Inability to digest
lactose is due to two genetic variations that flank the lactase-
phlorizin hydrolase (LCT) gene, investigators report in the advance
online edition of Nature Genetics for February.
http://gastroenterology.medscape.com/47092.rhtml?srcmp=gas-011802

There's always a lot to be thankful for if you take time to look for it.
For example, I am sitting here thinking how nice it is that wrinkles don't
hurt.