Effects of lactitol on intestinal microflora and plasma endotoxin in patients with chronic viral hepatitis.

Abstract

OBJECTIVES:

To investigate the effects of lactitol on intestinal flora and the levels of plasma endotoxin in patients with chronic viral hepatitis.

METHODS:

Sixty patients with chronic viral hepatitis and gut-derived endotoxemia were randomly divided into two groups: lactitol group (n=30) and control group (n=30). Patients in the control group received standard medical treatment for 3 weeks, while patients in the lactitol group received lactitol orally in addition to the standard medical treatment. Fecal flora and plasma endotoxin were measured before and after the treatment.

RESULTS:

In the lactitol group, the numbers of Bifidobacterium and Lactobacillus per gram of wet feces were significantly increased (p<0.01) and Clostridium perfringens count was decreased markedly (p<0.001). The levels of plasma endotoxin decreased after the treatment from 72.89 ng/L to 33.33 ng/L in the lactitol group and from 66.00 ng/L to 51.07 ng/L in the control group, but the plasma endotoxin levels in the lactitol group decreased far more than in the control group (p<0.01).

CONCLUSIONS:

Lactitol can decrease the levels of plasma endotoxin more effectively than standard medical treatment in patients with chronic viral hepatitis through improving intestinal microflora.

• Authors: Chunlei Chen, Lanjuan Li, Zhongwen Wu, Huguang Chen, Shuzhen Fu
• Journal: The Journal of infection (J Infect) Vol. 54 Issue 1 Pg. 98-102 (Jan 2007) ISSN: 1532-2742 [Electronic] England
• PMID: 17049992 (Publication Type: Journal Article, Randomized Controlled Trial)

Chemical References

• Endotoxins
• Sugar Alcohols
• lactitol

Topics

• Adolescent
• Adult
• Aged
• Bacteria (classification, drug effects, isolation & purification)
• Colony Count, Microbial
• Endotoxemia (drug therapy)
• Endotoxins (blood)
• Feces (microbiology)
• Female
• Hepatitis, Chronic (complications)
• Hepatitis, Viral, Human (complications)
• Humans
• Intestines (microbiology)
• Male
• Middle Aged
• Sugar Alcohols (administration & dosage, therapeutic use)