Retraction—Country, regional, and global estimates for lactose malabsorption in adults: a systematic review and meta-analysis

Abstract

Further to the Expression of concern The Lancet Gastroenterology & Hepatology issued in September 2024¹ for an Article presenting country, regional, and global estimates of lactose malabsorption,² the Editors worked with the authors of the paper to determine whether further data included in the paper did not fully meet the study's stated eligibility criteria. Estimates for a substantial number of countries were identified as being derived, either wholly or in part, from studies that were not representative of the general population, or from studies that did not fulfil other eligibility criteria. As such, the findings of the Article are unreliable and we are now retracting the Article.