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.