The principal supplement for lactose intolerance is lactase enzyme, taken orally with lactose-containing foods. Supplementing with lactase enzyme has been shown to be clinically effective at reducing or eliminating the digestive symptoms of lactose intolerance.[1][2][3][4][5] Probiotics have also been studied for lactose intolerance. Per a 2019 review, the probiotics that have been studied include Bifidobacterium longum, Bifidobacterium animalis, Lactobacillus bulgaricus, Lactobacillus reuteri, Lactobacillus acidophilus, Lactobacillus rhamnosus, Saccharomyces boulardii, and Streptococcus thermophilus. Of these, B. animalis had the best evidence for reducing symptoms of lactose intolerance.[6] A promising, but less-studied and proprietary, probiotic is a genetically modified strain of L. acidophilus that produces mammalian lactase. However, no research on this probiotic strain has been published in a peer-reviewed journal, and clinical trials are still ongoing.[7]
References
- ^Ojetti V, Gigante G, Gabrielli M, Ainora ME, Mannocci A, Lauritano EC, Gasbarrini G, Gasbarrini AThe effect of oral supplementation with Lactobacillus reuteri or tilactase in lactose intolerant patients: randomized trialEur Rev Med Pharmacol Sci.(2010 Mar)
- ^Corazza GR, Benati G, Sorge M, Strocchi A, Calza G, Gasbarrini Gbeta-Galactosidase from Aspergillus niger in adult lactose malabsorption: a double-blind crossover studyAliment Pharmacol Ther.(1992 Feb)
- ^Solomons NW, Guerrero AM, Torun BDietary manipulation of postprandial colonic lactose fermentation: II. Addition of exogenous, microbial beta-galactosidases at mealtimeAm J Clin Nutr.(1985 Feb)
- ^Montalto M, Nucera G, Santoro L, Curigliano V, Vastola M, Covino M, Cuoco L, Manna R, Gasbarrini A, Gasbarrini GEffect of exogenous beta-galactosidase in patients with lactose malabsorption and intolerance: a crossover double-blind placebo-controlled studyEur J Clin Nutr.(2005 Apr)
- ^Di Costanzo M, Berni Canani RLactose Intolerance: Common Misunderstandings.Ann Nutr Metab.(2018)
- ^Oak SJ, Jha RThe effects of probiotics in lactose intolerance: A systematic review.Crit Rev Food Sci Nutr.(2019)
- ^Lemuel W. Taylor IVDoes Daily Supplementation of Lactobacillus Acidophilus MPH734, for One Week, Affect Acute (Immediate), Subacute (7 Days), and Post-treatment Discontinuation Lactose Metabolism, Gastrointestinal Symptoms, and Clinical Markers of Inflammation and Safety Compared to a Placebo (LF)(preregistration).(2020-08)