Lactase and placebo in the management of the irritable bowel syndrome: a double-blind, cross-over study

• Published in: The American journal of gastroenterology Vol. 84; no. 7; p. 756
• Main Authors: Lisker, R, Solomons, N W, Pérez Briceño, R, Ramírez Mata, M
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States 01.07.1989
• Subjects: Adult; Aged; Animals; beta-Galactosidase - therapeutic use; Colonic Diseases, Functional - etiology; Colonic Diseases, Functional - therapy; Double-Blind Method; Feeding Behavior - physiology; Female; Galactosidases - therapeutic use; Humans; Lactose Intolerance - complications; Male; Middle Aged; Milk - metabolism
• ISSN: 0002-9270

A double-blind, cross-over, therapeutic, clinical trial of the efficacy of exogenous, microbial beta-D-galactosidase to reduce the symptoms of the irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) was conducted in 12 patients whose customary diets regularly included milk. Eight of the 12 subjects (67%) proved to be lactase-nonpersistent, lactose-maldigesters when challenged with a aqueous dose of 12.5 g. The study lasted 4 months, with the first month a non-intervention, control period and the latter 3 months alternating in the sequence, treatment/placebo/treatment, or placebo/treatment/placebo. When symptoms during trial months were analyzed by the cumulative sum procedure, gastrointestinal symptoms were found to be independent of lactase treatment. We found a positive temporal association of the severity of both gastrointestinal and non-gastrointestinal symptomatology. In populations with a high prevalence of lactose deficiency, IBS symptoms appear to be independent of lactose maldigestion.