The role of colonic microbiota in lactose intolerance.
In a previous study we observed a clear difference in lactose intolerance symptoms after a 25-g lactose load in two groups of persons with lactase nonpersistence and similar small intestinal lactase activity. From this observation we hypothesized a colon resistance factor. To identify this factor, the microbial composition of fecal samples of the two lactose intolerant groups (one with mild symptoms, n = 16, and one with diarrhea-predominant symptoms, n = 11) was compared using the fluorescent in situ hybridization technique. Large interindividual differences were found in the numbers of total bacteria and main groups of bacteria (CV: 0.65 and 0.64-0.82 respectively). The bacterial numbers were not significantly different between the two groups. A significant negative correlation, however, was found between the individual symptom scores of the intolerant persons and the numbers of total hybridizable bacteria (r(s) = -0.42, P = 0.03). The results suggest that an increased number of bacteria might contribute--by means of a higher fermentative capacity--to the reduction of lactose intolerance symptoms.
Zhong
Yan
Y
Huaxi School of Public Health, Sichuan University, Chengdu, PR China.
Priebe
Marion G
MG
Vonk
Roel J
RJ
Huang
Cheng-Yu
CY
Antoine
Jean-Michel
JM
He
Tao
T
Harmsen
Hermie J M
HJ
Welling
Gjalt W
GW
D000328:Adult; D003013:Clostridium / Q000235:genetics / Q000302:isolation & purification; D015169:Colony Count, Microbial; D015342:DNA Probes; D004269:DNA, Bacterial / Q000032:analysis; D005051:Eubacterium / Q000235:genetics / Q000302:isolation & purification; D005243:Feces / Q000382:microbiology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D017404:In Situ Hybridization, Fluorescence; D007785:Lactose / Q000378:metabolism; D007787:Lactose Intolerance / Q000378:metabolism / Q000382:microbiology* / Q000473:pathology; D007789:Lactose Tolerance Test; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012720:Severity of Illness Index
D015342:DNA Probes; D004269:DNA, Bacterial; D007785:Lactose