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Media Advisory
Tuesday, February 16, 2010
NIH to Hold Press Telebriefing on February 24 following Consensus Development Conference on Lactose Intolerance
What: Infants of every racial and ethnic group worldwide produce lactase, an enzyme required to successfully digest the lactose present in human milk or infant formulas. However, by the time many of the world’s children reach the age of three to four years, expression of intestinal lactase ceases, often causing gas production, bloating, abdominal pain, and diarrhea. Health care providers are concerned that individuals avoiding fortified dairy products may not be meeting recommended intakes of calcium, vitamin D, and other nutrients, which may have effects on bone health throughout the lifecycle. Questions remain as to the amount, if any, of lactose that can be tolerated by lactose intolerant individuals and how best to assist them in meeting recommended intakes.
The impartial, independent Consensus Development Conference panel will hold a press telebriefing to highlight their findings and implications for the public following the NIH Consensus Development Conference: Lactose Intolerance in Health, February 22-24, 2010. The panel’s statement will incorporate their assessment of the available evidence from a systematic literature review, expert presentations, and audience input to inform provider and patient decisions regarding lactose intolerance and health.
Who: Members of the Consensus Development Conference panel, to be announced Monday, February 22, 2010.
When: Press telebriefing: Wednesday, February 24, 2010 at 2:00 pm EST.
Reporters are welcome to attend the Consensus Development Conference in its entirety. Information is provided below; conference registration and further details are available at http://consensus.nih.gov/2010/lactose.htm.
Where: The press telebriefing will be conducted via conference call. To pre-register for the telebriefing and access panel bios, images, and other related resources, visit http://consensus.nih.gov/2010/lactosemedia.htm. (Pre-registration is not required, but relevant material will be e-mailed to pre-registered media prior to the telebriefing.)
Dial in Number: 1-888-428-7458 (within the US) / 201-604-5177 (international)
Please call in 5 to 10 minutes prior to the start of the telebriefing. Media will be asked for name and outlet. Interested parties who are not affiliated with a media outlet may listen in, but will not be permitted to ask questions during the call.
Conference Information: The NIH Consensus Development Conference on Lactose Intolerance and Health is free and open to the public.
Monday, February 22, 2010 – 8:30 a.m. – 5:30 p.m.
Tuesday, February 23, 2010 – 8:30 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.
Wednesday, February 24, 2010 – 9:00 a.m. – 11:00 a.m.
Live and archived webcast: http://videocast.nih.gov
All sessions will be held at the Natcher Conference Center on the NIH main campus in Bethesda, Maryland. Visitors to campus should plan to take Metro, as parking is limited. For information about security procedures, please see http://www.nih.gov/about/visitor.
The conference is presented through the NIH Consensus Development Program. Information on the conference process and additional resources are available at http://consensus.nih.gov/2010/lactose.htm.
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