Probiotic treatment in children with lactose intolerance – An open labeled the one group pre-test post-test experimental study

Abstract

Background Lactose intolerance is the most common disorder of intestinal carbohydrate digestion. Probiotic that contains the cor- rect strain in appropriate amount can be used as an alternative dietary for lactose intolerance patients. Objective This study was designed to describe the role of probiotic in relieving lactose intolerance symptoms in children consumed full-cream milk. Methods This study was a clinical trial. Inclusion criteria was chil- dren aged 12-14 years old, had a good nutrition and health status, with positive breath hydrogen test (BHT) result and lactose intoler- ance symptom(s), and their parents gave consent. Forty-two chil- dren were included. All subjects consumed one glass (200 ml) of full-cream milk twice a day for 21 days and recorded intolerance symptoms. Probiotic was added from 8 th to 21 st day in their milk, and responses of treatment were evaluated by scoring system (based on borborigmic, flatulence, abdominal bloating, nausea and vomiting, abdominal pain, and diarrhea symptoms). At the end of study they were undergone second BHT examination. Results There were decreasing mean score rates at 7 th day (pre) 13.8 (SD 5.5) compared with 7.5 (SD 3.5) at 14 th day (after) and was statistically significant (P<0.001). Mean score rate at 7 th day (pre) 13.8 (SD 5.5) compared with 21 st day (after) was 0.119 (SD 0.55) and was statistically significant (P<0.001). At the end of study, only 2 subjects showed clinical signs of lactose intolerance. Thirty- six subjects had normal BHT result at 21 st day and was statisti- cally significant (P<0.001). Conclusion Two weeks administration of probiotic could relieve lactose intolerance symptoms in children consumed full-cream milk

Keywords

• lactose intolerance
• probiotic (Lactobacillus acidophilus, Bifidobacterium longum, and Streptococcus faecium)
• breath-hydrogen test (BHT)