Ayanat Akbuzhan
Class of 2026Astana, N/A
About
Hi, I’m Ayanat—a high school student and a curious teenager passionate about food science and nutrition. Through my Polygence project, I’m exploring how genetics, maternal health, and cultural diets might influence the prevalence of congenital alactasia in certain regions. This research might reveal fascinating patterns that could trigger very innovative solutions to bring better health outcomes. Outside the lab, you’ll probably find me thinking of ways to make healthy eating more sustainable or experimenting with new recipes in the kitchen :)Projects
- "Regional influences of traditional diets on the prevalence of lactose intolerance" with mentor Jamal (May 8, 2025)
Project Portfolio
Regional influences of traditional diets on the prevalence of lactose intolerance
Started Dec. 13, 2024
Abstract or project description
This study investigates the relationship between traditional dietary practices and the regional prevalence of adult hypolactasia across twelve countries representing East Asia, Southeast Asia, Northern Europe, Southern Europe, the Middle East and North Africa, and North America. The research examines whether the lactose content of traditional foods influences lactase persistence by analyzing hypolactasia rates, the historical origins of traditional dairy products, and their lactose levels. Data were collected through a literature review, survey responses from residents in each country, an expert interview on Indigenous American diets, and statistical analysis using one-way ANOVA. Contrary to the initial hypothesis, results show that the lactose content of traditional foods does not significantly predict hypolactasia prevalence (p = 0.576). Instead, findings highlight that the timing and depth of dairy adoption into cultural diets played a more critical role. Regions with early dairy traditions, such as Northern Europe, exhibit low hypolactasia rates despite consuming lower-lactose products, whereas regions with later or limited dairy integration, like East Asia and Southeast Asia, maintain high hypolactasia rates even when traditional foods are high in lactose. Survey results further demonstrate that cultural familiarity, personal experience with dairy, and perceptions of lactose intolerance vary widely between regions. Overall, this study supports the theory that gene-culture coevolution, driven by early and sustained dairy consumption, shaped global patterns of lactase persistence more profoundly than the lactose content of individual foods.