The role of colonic microbiota in lactose intolerance.

Abstract

In a previous study we observed a clear difference in lactose intolerance symptoms after a 25-g lactose load in two groups of persons with lactase nonpersistence and similar small intestinal lactase activity. From this observation we hypothesized a colon resistance factor. To identify this factor, the microbial composition of fecal samples of the two lactose intolerant groups (one with mild symptoms, n = 16, and one with diarrhea-predominant symptoms, n = 11) was compared using the fluorescent in situ hybridization technique. Large interindividual differences were found in the numbers of total bacteria and main groups of bacteria (CV: 0.65 and 0.64-0.82 respectively). The bacterial numbers were not significantly different between the two groups. A significant negative correlation, however, was found between the individual symptom scores of the intolerant persons and the numbers of total hybridizable bacteria (r(s) = -0.42, P = 0.03). The results suggest that an increased number of bacteria might contribute--by means of a higher fermentative capacity--to the reduction of lactose intolerance symptoms.

• Authors: Yan Zhong, Marion G Priebe, Roel J Vonk, Cheng-Yu Huang, Jean-Michel Antoine, Tao He, Hermie J M Harmsen, Gjalt W Welling
• Journal: Digestive diseases and sciences (Dig Dis Sci) Vol. 49 Issue 1 Pg. 78-83 (Jan 2004) ISSN: 0163-2116 [Print] United States
• PMID: 14992439 (Publication Type: Journal Article, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't)

Chemical References

• DNA Probes
• DNA, Bacterial
• Lactose

Topics

• Adult
• Clostridium (genetics, isolation & purification)
• Colony Count, Microbial
• DNA Probes
• DNA, Bacterial (analysis)
• Eubacterium (genetics, isolation & purification)
• Feces (microbiology)
• Female
• Humans
• In Situ Hybridization, Fluorescence
• Lactose (metabolism)
• Lactose Intolerance (metabolism, microbiology, pathology)
• Lactose Tolerance Test
• Male
• Middle Aged
• Severity of Illness Index