Fructooligosaccharides and lactulose cause more symptoms in lactose maldigesters and subjects with pseudohypolactasia than in control lactose digesters.

BACKGROUND: Many lactose maldigesters tolerate more lactose in experimental studies than in everyday life, in which their symptoms may result from other carbohydrates as well. OBJECTIVE: The question of whether the symptoms caused by large quantities of carbohydrates are more severe in lactose maldigesters than in control lactose digesters or in lactose digesters who report milk to be the cause of their gastrointestinal symptoms (pseudohypolactasic subjects) was studied in a randomized, double-blind, crossover study. Comparisons between commonly used diagnostic methods for lactose maldigestion were also made. DESIGN: The subjects were 40 women aged 20-63 y from 3 groups: lactose maldigesters (n = 12), pseudohypolactasic subjects (n = 15), and control lactose digesters (n = 13). The subjects were given either 50 g lactose, 50 g sucrose, 25 g lactulose, or 25 g fructooligosaccharides. After carbohydrate ingestion, urine was collected and the breath-hydrogen concentration was measured every 30 min for 3 h. Blood glucose was measured every 20 min for 1 h and subjective gastrointestinal symptoms were monitored for 8 h with a questionnaire. RESULTS: When lactulose and fructooligosaccharides were ingested, the lactose maldigesters (P = 0.04 and 0.09, respectively) and the pseudohypolactasic subjects (P = 0.006 and 0.01, respectively) reported more symptoms than did the control lactose digesters. Sucrose caused more symptoms in the lactose maldigesters than in the control lactose digesters (P = 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Lactose maldigesters and lactose digesters with pseudohypolactasia experience more symptoms than control lactose digesters after a single intake of large amounts of indigestible carbohydrates. Lactose maldigesters also experience more symptoms after ingesting sucrose.

Addition of inulin to breakfast does not acutely affect serum ionized calcium and parathyroid hormone concentrations.

BACKGROUND/AIMS: The aim of the present study was to investigate the effects of inulin on calcium metabolism. The study consisted of two separate parts both of which had a randomized two-period cross-over design. METHODS: Fifteen young healthy women volunteered to participate in this study. During the first part of the study, cheese containing 210 mg of calcium, either with 15 g of inulin or without any inulin, was ingested at breakfast, and in the second part, 210 mg of calcium as a supplement, either with 15 g inulin or without inulin, was ingested. The whole day's diet was standardized. Before breakfast, and 2, 4, 6 and 8 h after breakfast, a blood sample was taken, and intact parathyroid hormone (iPTH), ionized calcium (iCa) and total calcium were measured. Urine was collected throughout the day, and the 8-, 12- and 24-hour calcium excretion was calculated. RESULTS: The iPTH or iCa concentration curves (AUCs) did not differ over 8 h, whether or not inulin was consumed at breakfast. The postload urinary calcium excretion was not affected by the inulin. CONCLUSION: Fifteen grams of inulin in fresh cheese or with a calcium supplement (210 mg Ca) taken at breakfast does not acutely affect the markers of calcium metabolism as opposed to a corresponding breakfast without inulin.

Increased fecal frequency and gastrointestinal symptoms following ingestion of galacto-oligosaccharide-containing yogurt.

Gastrointestinal symptoms and fecal frequency following ingestion of yogurt containing 15 g of galacto-oligosaccharides (GOS) per d were observed in 12 healthy volunteers. The effect of GOS on intestinal microflora was also studied in six volunteers. Defecation frequency increased during the administration period, but gastrointestinal symptoms, especially flatulence, also increased. The level of fecal bifidobacteria did not increase by the yogurt intake, but a significant increase was observed in the fecal bacteria growing on MRS media. The results indicate that dietary GOS increase gastrointestinal symptoms and fecal frequency in normal adults and have an effect on intestinal microecosystem.

Galacto-oligosaccharides relieve constipation in elderly people.

The aim of the study was to investigate whether galacto-oligosaccharides (GOS) relieve constipation in elderly people. The final study population consisted of 14 female subjects, mean age 79.6 (69-87) years, who suffered from constipation. The study was a double-blind two-period cross-over study. Both study periods lasted 2 weeks. The subjects ingested either 2 control yoghurts or 2 GOS-containing yoghurts daily. The yoghurts were otherwise similar, but the daily dose of GOS (Elix'or, BWP, Holland) from the GOS yoghurt was 9 g. The regular use of laxatives was stopped during the study periods and laxatives were used only when necessary. All the subjects reported the function of their intestines daily in a questionnaire. The defecation frequency per week (mean, range) was higher during the GOS period (7.1, 3-15) than during the control period (5.9, 1-14). GOS had no statistically significant effect on the use of laxatives, the consistency of feces or the ease of defecation, although GOS seemed to make defecation easier (p = 0.07). The adverse gastrointestinal symptoms were similar during both the control and the GOS periods. GOS seem to relieve constipation in most elderly people but the responses differ individually.