title: Beta-galactosidase tablets in the treatment of lactose intolerance in pediatrics.
abstract: Lactose-intolerant children manifest diminished or nonexistent intestinal lactase activity, resulting in flatulence, abdominal pain, and diarrhea. To assess the hydrolytic capability of lactase-containing tablets taken immediately before oral lactose challenge, we studied 18 children previously identified as being lactose intolerant and having no underlying organic gastrointestinal disease. Subjects had a mean (+/- SEM) age of 11.4 +/- 3.4 years; 72% were male. At time of the study, lactase-containing tablets or placebo tablets were ingested (double-blind) immediately before drinking a solution of lactose. Breath samples were obtained for hydrogen analysis at 30-minute intervals during a 2-hour period, and clinical symptoms were monitored. In lactose-intolerant patients, hydrogen production was significantly greater following placebo (maximum hydrogen excretion, approximately 60 ppm) compared with lactase-containing tablets (maximum hydrogen excretion, 7 ppm). Increased hydrogen production was associated with clinical symptoms including abdominal pain (89% of subjects following placebo ingestion), bloating (83%), diarrhea (61%), and flatulence (44%). These results indicate, therefore, that coingestion of lactose and lactase-containing tablets significantly reduces both breath hydrogen excretion and clinical symptoms associated with lactose intolerance.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatrics, Pediatric Gastroenterology, New York Medical College, Valhalla 10595.
authors.forename: M S
authors.initials: MS
authors.lastname: Medow
authors.forename: K D
authors.initials: KD
authors.lastname: Thek
authors.forename: L J
authors.initials: LJ
authors.lastname: Newman
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Berezin
authors.forename: M S
authors.initials: MS
authors.lastname: Glassman
authors.forename: S M
authors.initials: SM
authors.lastname: Schwarz
mesh_terms: D015746:Abdominal Pain / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology; D000293:Adolescent; D001944:Breath Tests; D002648:Child; D003967:Diarrhea / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D005260:Female; D005414:Flatulence / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology; D006801:Humans; D006859:Hydrogen / Q000032:analysis; D007787:Lactose Intolerance / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy*; D007789:Lactose Tolerance Test; D008297:Male; D001616:beta-Galactosidase / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*
chemical_list: D006859:Hydrogen; D001616:beta-Galactosidase