Hydrogen excretion upon ingestion of dairy products in lactose-intolerant male subjects: importance of the live flora (original) (raw)

Objective: To assess the effects of the ingestion of milk, yoghurt (108 bacteria/ml), heat-treated yoghurt (<15 bacteria/ml) and two products obtained by dilution of yoghurt with heat-treated product (106 and 105 bacteria/ml) on hydrogen production and symptoms of lactose intolerance in lactose malabsorbers.

Design: Double-blind, randomised cross-over design.

Setting: The study was performed in the phase 1 clinical unit of OPTIMED, Nancy, France.

Subjects: Twenty-four male lactose malabsorbers were selected for the study.

Interventions: Hydrogen production and adverse events were followed during 8 h after ingestion of the products.

Results: The results clearly demonstrate that ingestion of yoghurt with 108 bacteria/ml leads to lower H2 excretion and complaints than the other products. Results observed with the products containing a reduced population of live flora remain better than those observed with milk.

Conclusions: The importance of a high population of the live flora is underlined.

Sponsorship: This work was supported by the ‘Mission Scientifique de SYNDIFRAIS’.

European Journal of Clinical Nutrition (2001) 55, 509–512