title: Lactase and placebo in the management of the irritable bowel syndrome: a double-blind, cross-over study.
abstract: 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.
authors.affiliation: Department of Genetics, Instituto Nacional de la Nutrición Salvador Zubirán, México City, Mexico.
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Lisker
authors.forename: N W
authors.initials: NW
authors.lastname: Solomons
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Pérez Briceño
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Ramírez Mata
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000818:Animals; D003109:Colonic Diseases, Functional / Q000209:etiology / Q000628:therapy*; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D005247:Feeding Behavior / Q000502:physiology; D005260:Female; D005696:Galactosidases / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D006801:Humans; D007787:Lactose Intolerance / Q000150:complications; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D008892:Milk / Q000378:metabolism; D001616:beta-Galactosidase / Q000627:therapeutic use*
chemical_list: D005696:Galactosidases; D001616:beta-Galactosidase