Written by Greg Arnold, DC, CSCS. Of the 47 study participants who took galactooligosaccharide (GOS/RP-G28) in daily increments of 1.5 g-15 g for 36 days, followed by 30 days of dairy, 71% had significant improvements in symptoms of lactose intolerance.
Lactose intolerance is a condition in which the body is unable to properly digest lactose, one of the sugars found in milk. Worldwide, it is estimated that 3 in four people have lactose intolerance, including 80 million Americans 1,2. While lactose intolerance does not pose a serious threat to overall health and well-being, its symptoms (bloating, diarrhea, gas) can significantly affect a person’s quality of life 3.
A 2017 study 4 involved 85 lactose intolerant participants (35 men, 50 women) with an average age of 41. Fifty-seven were randomly assigned to receive galactooligosaccharide (GOS/RP-G28) while 28 participants received a placebo (corn syrup) for 36 days. The GOS and placebo were escalated in 5-day increments from 1.5 g to 15 g consumed once a day. During this time, the participants were instructed to stop all dairy consumption.
On day 37, supplementation was stopped and both groups consumed dairy for the next 30 days, during which they provided feedback on their digestive symptoms, namely pain from bloating, gas, or diarrhea. Stool samples were also obtained to measure the bacterial content. GOS is known as a “prebiotic” which serves as food for “probiotics”, the bacteria in our digestive system that possess health-promoting properties 5.
- After 36 days, the researchers collected a total of 238 stool samples and noted the following changes in bacterial makeup:
- A 14-fold increase in ActinobacteriaA doubling of Bifidobacteria
- A 25-fold increase in Bifidobacteriaceae
- No changes in the placebo group (p <0.05)
By day 66, after 30 days of not supplementing with the prebiotics, the bacterial makeup of the stool samples returned to pre-study levels, demonstrating the need for continued prebiotic supplementation.
When looking at lactose intolerance symptoms, 25 out of the 35 subjects in the prebiotics group (71 % of subjects) reported improvements in at least one symptom (pain, bloating, diarrhea, cramping, or flatulence). After 30 days of consuming lactose (between days 36 and 66), symptom improvement was still prevalent in 24 out of the 35 subjects (69% of subjects). No significant symptom changes were noted in the placebo group (p > 0.05).
Also at day 36, populations of bifidobacteria significantly increased by 90% in the 27 of the 30 non-lactose tolerant participants who took GOS. Lactose fermenting Bifidobacterium, Faecalibacterium, and Lactobacillus were all significantly increased. When participants resumed dairy diets containing lactose, there was an increase in lactose-fermenting Roseburia from days 36-66. These increases in lactose –fermenting bacteria correlated with a decrease in symptoms of lactose intolerance.
For the researchers, supplementing with prebiotics in the form of galactooligosaccharides produced “a definitive change in the fecal microbiome of lactose-intolerant individuals” and that “This change correlated with clinical outcomes of improved lactose tolerance.”
Source: Azcarate-Peril M Andrea, Ritter Andrew J, Savaiano Dennis, Monteagudo-Mera Andrea, Anderson Carlton, Magness Scott T. Impacat of short-chain galactooligosaccharides on the gut microbiome of lactose-intoleranat individuals. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 2017 Jan 17; 114(3): E367–E375. Published online 2017 Jan 3. doi: 10.1073/pnas.1606722113 PNAS Plus Microbiology. Freely available online through the PNAS open access option.
Click here to read the full text study.
Posted January 26, 2017.
Greg Arnold is a Chiropractic Physician practicing in Hauppauge, NY. You can contact Dr. Arnold directly by emailing him at PitchingDoc@msn.com or visiting his web site at www.PitchingDoc.com.
References:
- Itan Y, Jones BL, Ingram CJ, Swallow DM, Thomas MG. A worldwide correlation of lactase persistence phenotype and genotypes. BMC evolutionary biology. 2010;10(1):36.
- Scrimshaw NS, Murray EB. The acceptability of milk and milk products in populations with a high prevalence of lactose intolerance. The American journal of clinical nutrition. 1988;48(4):1142-1159.
- Casellas F, Aparici A, Pérez M, Rodríguez P. Perception of lactose intolerance impairs health-related quality of life. European journal of clinical nutrition. 2016.
- Azcarate-Peril MA, Ritter AJ, Savaiano D, et al. Impact of short-chain galactooligosaccharides on the gut microbiome of lactose-intolerant individuals. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences. 2017:201606722.
- Depeint F, Tzortzis G, Vulevic J, I’Anson K, Gibson GR. Prebiotic evaluation of a novel galactooligosaccharide mixture produced by the enzymatic activity of Bifidobacterium bifidum NCIMB 41171, in healthy humans: a randomized, double-blind, crossover, placebo-controlled intervention study. The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition. 2008;87(3):785-791.
