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A lactulose sensor based on coupled enzyme reactions with a ring electrode fabricated from tetrathiafulvalen-tetracyanoquinodimetane.

A dual enzyme electrode is explored for measuring lactulose in milk. A ring electrode (diameter = 3 mm; ring width = 10-20 microns) is proposed onto which tetrathiafulvalen-tetracyanoquinodimetane (TTF-TCNQ) salt was physically packed. The electrode is a band electrode with dimensions approaching those for micro electrodes, so that the improved faradaic current/charging current ratio lead to improved detection limits. Fructose dehydrogenase (FDH) and beta-galactosidase (beta-gal) were immobilized by covering the electrode surface with a dialysis membrane. Lactulose was hydrolyzed to D-fructose and D-galactose by beta-gal. The hydrolyzed D-fructose was oxidized by FDH which was simultaneously reduced to the reduced form (FDH-PQQH2). The FDH-PQQH2 was directly reoxidized by TTF-TCNQ on the ring electrode, whose current was monitored at 200 mV vs Ag/AgCl. The detection limit of the lactulose sensor was 1.0 microM and the selectivity for lactulose was at least 1000 times higher than that for lactose. Pasteurized, UHT and sterilized milks were applied to the lactulose sensor, showing good accuracy and precision and, furthermore, good correlation to a reference photometric method, even though no rigorous procedure for the electrode fabrication has presently been addressed.

Animals↗

Lactulose-induced diarrhoea in rats: effects on caecal development and activities of microbial enzymes.

The intake of large amounts of lactulose and other non-digestible oligosaccharides can cause diarrhoea in rats and humans. The purpose of our study was to estimate tendency and scope of changes in caecum development, amount and composition of caecal digesta and activity of caecal microbial enzymes under the influence of lactulose-rich diet evoking or not evoking diarrhoea. Male Wistar rats were fed on 8%-lactulose diet for 4 weeks. Feeding with lactulose induced enlargement of the caecum (digesta and wall) compared to the control group. However, the hypertrophy of the caecal wall in rats with diarrhoea was less than in these without that ailment. Dry matter of caecal digesta was significantly decreased in rats with diarrhoea. Diarrhoea lowered concentrations of enzymatic protein and short-chain fatty acids in the caecum, and the activity of bacterial beta-glucuronidase, alpha- and beta-galactosidase, alpha- and beta-glucosidase in caecal digesta, compared to rats without diarrhoea. The ammonia concentration in the caecum was enhanced by diarrhoea symptoms. Occurrence of diarrhoea significantly deteriorated functioning of the caecal ecosystem what in turn limited potential benefits of diet supplementation with lactulose.

Ammonia↗

Effects of lactulose and lactitol on coliform bacteria and bacterial translocation in the caecum during 72-h starvation in rats.

Lactulose and lactitol, non-absorbable disaccharides, prevent bacterial translocation (BT) arising from the gut. In contrast, lack of food into the gut leads to coliform bacterial overgrowth and even if it does not cause BT, can induce the risk from other stimuli for BT. In this study, we tested whether lactulose and lactitol affected populations of coliform bacteria in the caecum during starvation in Sprague-Dawley rats. Three groups of rats were starved for 72 h and given oral 2 ml undiluted lactulose (670 mg/ml), 2 ml undiluted lactitol (666 mg/ml) or 2 ml physiological saline, respectively, once a day. The caecum and mesenteric lymph nodes (MLNs) were removed for microbiological and histopathological analyses. The highest degree of coliform bacterial overgrowth, BT to MLNs and histopathological damage were observed in lactulose-treated rats, followed by the group treated with lactitol. As a result of this study, both drugs, especially lactulose augmented the proliferation and translocation tendency of coliform bacteria in the caecum during 72-h starvation in rats.

Animals↗

Efficacy of lactulose in cirrhotic patients with subclinical hepatic encephalopathy.

To investigate the role of lactulose in the treatment of cirrhotic patients with subclinical hepatic encephalopathy (SHE), 40 cirrhotic patients, 33 males and 7 females, were included in the study. The diagnosis of SHE was made by quantitative psychometric tests including the number connection test (NCT), figure connection test (FCT) parts A and B, and two performance subtests of Wechsler adult intelligence scale, ie, picture completion (PC) and block design (BD) tests. SHE was diagnosed in 26 (65%) of 40 patients. Of these 26 patients, 14 patients were randomized to treatment group (lactulose 30-60 ml/day for three months, SHE-L) and 12 patients to no treatment group (no lactulose, SHE-NL). Psychometric tests were repeated in all patients in both groups and in six patients with no SHE (group NSHE, N = 14) after three months. The mean scores and number of the abnormal psychometric tests at entry were significantly higher in patients in groups SHE-L and SHE-NL than in patients in group NSHE; however, there was no significant difference between SHE-L and SHE-NL. The mean number of the abnormal psychometric tests decreased in patients in group SHE-L after three months of treatment with lactulose (2.9 +/- 0.9 vs 0.8 +/- 1.2; P = 0.004); however, there was no change in patients in group SHE-NL after three months (3.7 +/- 1.5 vs 3.5 +/- 1.3; P = NS). While SHE improved in 8 of 10 patients in group SHE-L, none of the patients in group SHE-NL improved after three months of follow-up (P < 0.001). Two patients in group SHE-NL also developed overt encephalopathy during the study period. We conclude that lactulose treatment in cirrhotic patients with SHE is effective.

Adult↗

Improved parameters of lactose maldigestion using lactulose.

Lactulose is a disaccharide derived from lactose. There has been recent rekindling of interest in the possible benefits of pro- and prebiotics: mainly, lactic acid-producing bacteria and lactulose for the lower intestine. Since lactose maldigestion is a common genetic trait, we undertook this study to delineate similar effects between these two disaccharides. Nine healthy lactose maldigesting subjects underwent two separate periods of three weeks adaptation, first with 10 g twice daily lactulose and then 1.5 g twice daily lactose (in milk). Adaptation was defined by reduced breath Hydrogen (BH2) and symptoms after 50 g lactose challenges. In six subjects fecal beta-galactosidase was measured. All subjects consumed some lactose daily. In the first period, eight subjects improved symptoms and reduced BH2 significantly, while in the second period they did not. Fecal beta-galactosidase significantly increased after lactulose. This study supports the notion that lactulose and lactose may have similar clinical effects.

Adaptation, Physiological↗

Stool water content and colonic drug absorption: contrasting effects of lactulose and codeine.

PURPOSE: By varying stool water content using lactulose and codeine, we investigated the influence of luminal water content on the absorption of quinine, a transcellular probe, and 51Cr-EDTA, a paracellular probe, from the distal gut. METHODS: Sixteen volunteers entered a three-way cross-over trial in which absorption of probe markers from a timed-release delivery system was determined following treatment with lactulose 20 mls tds (increasing water content), or codeine 30 gms qds (decreasing water content), and compared with control untreated values. Stool water content was assessed by freeze drying stool samples. Site of release was determined by gamma scintigraphy, and absorption was measured by plasma levels and urinary recovery of the marker probes. RESULTS: Lactulose accelerated ascending colon transit (3.7 +/- 0.8 vs 4.5 +/- 1.4 hrs, p < 0.05), increased stool water content (75 +/- 2 vs 71 +/- 2%, p < 0.01), caused greater dispersion of released material (dispersion score 3.4 +/- 0.3 vs 1.8 +/- 0.2, p < 0.01), and enhanced absorption of the transcellular probe quinine (4.66 +/- 0.78 vs 3.02 +/- 0.63%, p < 0.05) compared to control. Conversely codeine slowed ascending colon transit (8.9 +/- 1.8 hrs), reduced stool water content (61 +/- 2 vs 71.2%, p < 0.05), and tended to diminish absorption (2.60 +/- 0.77 vs 3.02 +/- 0.63%, p = 0.20). Within the ascending colon specifically, there was a significant trend for treatments increasing luminal water content to enhance quinine absorption (medians: codeine = 1.2%, [n = 81 < control = 2.3%, [n = 5] < lactulose = 3.2%, [n = 71, p < 0.01). Delivery site also had an important influence on absorption, with more distal release resulting in less absorption in the control arm (medians: small intestine = 4.4% [n = 5] > ascending colon = 2.3% [n = 5] > transverse colon = 1.5% [n = 6], p < 0.005). CONCLUSIONS: Lactulose accelerates transit, increases stool water content, and enhances drug absorption from the distal gut whilst codeine slows transit, decreases stool water content, and tends to diminish absorption, compared to controls. We conclude that water content may be an important determinant in colonic drug absorption.

Adult↗

Ileal pH and apparent absorption of magnesium in rats fed on diets containing either lactose or lactulose.

The hypothesis was tested that dietary lactose v. glucose stimulates Mg absorption in rats because lactose lowers pH of the ileal lumen, which improves Mg solubility which in turn enhances Mg availability for transport across the ileal epithelium. For comparison, the effects of lactulose were studied because it shares with lactose the characteristic of being poorly digestible. Replacement of glucose by lactose (100 g/kg) significantly stimulated apparent absorption of Mg. Apart from Mg absorption, lactulose also significantly enhanced absorption of Ca and phosphate. Lactose v. glucose lowered the pH of the ileal lumen from 7.5 to 7.2, whereas lactulose significantly reduced it to 7.0. In in vitro incubations a decrease in pH within the range of fluctuation in vivo was found to cause an improved solubility of Mg, and to a lesser extent also of Ca and phosphate. The smaller fall of ileal pH induced by feeding lactose instead of lactulose may explain why lactose improved Mg absorption only. For all individual rats combined there were negative relationships between ileal pH and apparent absorption of minerals, the relationship being strongest for Mg. Neither lactose nor lactulose was found to raise ileal solubility of minerals, which could relate to the possibility that the time of sampling was not appropriate. It is suggested that lactose-induced stimulation of Mg absorption in rats is caused by a lowering of ileal pH.

Animals↗

Lactulose and renal failure.

The introduction of lactulose as a new therapeutic agent for treatment of hepatic encephalopathy was a major breakthrough in this field. It was hypothesized that lactulose might prevent postoperative renal impairment after biliary surgery in patients with obstructive jaundice. The presumable mechanism purported was the diminished endotoxinemia by lactulose. Unfortunately, such a reno-protective effect has not been shown conclusively until now in clinical studies. In chronic renal failure lactulose is known to promote fecal excretion of water, sodium, potassium, amonium, urea, creatinine and protons. Thus, lactulose could be useful for the treatment of chronic renal failure. However, compliance to the therapy represents a major problem.

Acute Kidney Injury↗

Starch absorption by healthy man evaluated by lactulose hydrogen breath test.

The amounts of hydrogen produced from starch and lactulose were compared to assess the accuracy of the hydrogen breath test with lactulose as standard to quantify starch malabsorption. The mean amounts of hydrogen produced from starch and lactulose were not different in fecal homogenates and in breath excretion after carbohydrate infusions into the cecum. Known amounts of starch infused into the cecum of 18 subjects were compared with amounts calculated from the total excess excretion of hydrogen in breath computed in relation to hydrogen production after the ingestion of 10 g lactulose; calculated amounts were 3.6 +/- 1.0, 9.9 +/- 1.3, and 22.0 +/- 3.4 g for the infusion of 5, 10, and 25 g of starch, respectively. The lactulose hydrogen breath test based on total excess hydrogen volume provides a valid measurement of the mean amount of starch metabolized in the colon in a group of subjects. However, large individual variations preclude its use in a given subject.

Absorption↗

Evaluation of hydrogen excretion after lactulose administration as a screening test for causes of irritable bowel syndrome.

OBJECTIVE: To determine whether it is possible to separate cases of irritable bowel syndrome associated with excess total hydrogen production (as a surrogate of colonic fermentation; these patients may be offered an exclusion diet as treatment) from other causes of irritable bowel syndrome by determining the amount of hydrogen excreted on patients' breath after oral administration of lactulose. DESIGN: Comparison of 24-hour hydrogen excretion and breath hydrogen following lactulose in untreated patients fulfilling the Rome criteria for irritable bowel syndrome, normal controls and irritable bowel syndrome patients who had previously failed to improve on an exclusion diet. METHODS: Colonic fermentation was measured by indirect calorimetry over 24 h. Immediately after calorimetry, the patients who were fasting received 20 g lactulose; end-expiratory breath samples were then collected every 30 min for 3 h. Hydrogen concentrations were determined by an electro-chemical cell. RESULTS: The total 24-hour excretion of hydrogen was significantly greater in the irritable bowel syndrome group (median 333.7 ml/24 h, interquartile range 234.7-445.67) compared to the normal volunteers (median 203.1 ml/24 h, interquartile range 131.4-256; P = 0.002) or the failed-diet group (median 204.5 ml/24 h, interquartile range 111.35-289.13; P = 0.015). No difference was detected in breath excretion of hydrogen following lactulose in any group. CONCLUSION: Total hydrogen production over 24 h is increased in some patients with irritable bowel syndrome who may respond to exclusion diets. However, this sub-group of patients cannot be identified by measuring breath-hydrogen excretion after lactulose.

Adult↗

Lactulose reduces intracolonic acetaldehyde concentration and ethanol elimination rate in rats.

BACKGROUND: Normal colonic bacteria possessing alcohol dehydrogenase activity can oxidize ethanol to acetaldehyde. Acetaldehyde recently has been shown to be a local carcinogen in humans. The aim of the study was to examine the effect of lactulose feeding on fecal and cecal pH, intracolonic acetaldehyde concentration, and total ethanol elimination rate in rats. METHODS: Sixty Wistar rats were divided into four groups. Groups 2 and 4 received lactulose daily (11 g/kg body weight for 14 days). On days 7 and 14, groups 1 and 2 received ethanol (1.5 g/kg body weight) intraperitoneally, whereas groups 3 and 4 received saline. RESULTS: Fecal and cecal pH values decreased significantly after lactulose treatment compared with the controls. Lactulose feeding reduced the total ethanol elimination rate by 13.8% (257 +/- 0.008 mg/kg/hr vs. 298 +/- 0.003 mg/kg/hr, p < 0.001) and the intracecal acetaldehyde concentration by 66.2% after ethanol (49 +/- 29 microM vs. 145 +/- 47 microM, p = 0.03) compared with the controls. CONCLUSION: Lactulose feeding to rats significantly reduces ethanol elimination rate and intraluminal acetaldehyde concentration in the colon after ethanol administration. This prebiotic thus could be used as an effective agent to block the microbial production of carcinogenic acetaldehyde in the large intestine.

Acetaldehyde↗

Preventative effects of lactulose in the trinitrobenzenesulphonic acid model of rat colitis.

AIMS: Lactulose is a drug used as a laxative that has been shown to promote the growth of lactobacilli and bifidobacteria, acting as a prebiotic and with a potential beneficial effect in inflammatory bowel disease. The present study describes the preventive antiinflammatory activity of lactulose in the trinitrobenzenesulphonic acid (TNBS) model of rat colitis. METHODS: Rats were rendered colitic by a colonic instillation of 10 mg of TNBS dissolved in 0.25 mL of 50% ethanol. One group of colitic rats received lactulose, which was incorporated in the drinking water (2.5% wt/vol) for 2 weeks before TNBS instillation, and colonic damage was evaluated 1 week after colitis induction. Different biochemical markers of colonic inflammation were assayed: myeloperoxidase activity, glutathione content, tumor necrosis factor alpha, leukotriene B4 levels, and colonic inducible nitric oxide synthase expression. In addition, bacterial counts (for lactobacilli and bifidobacteria) were performed in colonic contents from colitic rats. RESULTS: The results show that lactulose exerted a preventive antiinflammatory effect in this model of rat colitis, as evidenced by a significant reduction of myeloperoxidase activity and by a decrease of both colonic tumor necrosis factor alpha and leukotriene B4 production. This effect was also characterized by an inhibition of colonic inducible nitric oxide synthase expression, which is unregulated as a consequence of the inflammatory status. This beneficial effect was associated with increased levels of lactobacilli and bifidobacteria species in colonic contents in comparison with untreated colitic rats. CONCLUSION: In conclusion, the intestinal antiinflammatory effect of lactulose could be related to its prebiotic properties, supporting its potential use in human inflammatory bowel disease.

Animals↗

Treatment of faecal impaction with polyethelene glycol plus electrolytes (PGE + E) followed by a double-blind comparison of PEG + E versus lactulose as maintenance therapy.

OBJECTIVES: To assess the efficacy of polyethylene glycol 3350 plus electrolytes (PEG + E; Movicol) as oral monotherapy in the treatment of faecal impaction in children, and to compare PEG + E with lactulose as maintenance therapy in a randomised trial. PATIENTS AND METHODS: An initial open-label study of PEG + E in the inpatient treatment of faecal impaction (phase 1), followed by a randomised, double-blind comparison between PEG + E and lactulose for maintenance treatment of constipation over a 3-month period (phase 2) in children aged 2 to 11 years with a clinical diagnosis of faecal impaction. RESULTS: Disimpaction on PEG + E was achieved in 58 (92%) of 63 of children (89% of 2-4 year olds and 94% of 5-11 year olds) without additional interventions. A maximum dose of 4 sachets (for 2-4 year olds) or 6 sachets (for 5-11 year olds) was required; median time to disimpaction was 6 days (range, 3-7 days). Seven children (23%) reimpacted whilst taking lactulose, whereas no children reimpacted while taking PEG + E (P = 0.011). The total incidence rate of adverse events seen was higher in the lactulose group (83%) than in the PEG + E group (64%). CONCLUSIONS: PEG + E is safe and highly effective in the management of childhood constipation. It allows a single orally administered laxative to be used for disimpaction without recourse to invasive interventions. It is significantly more effective than lactulose as maintenance therapy, both in efficacy in treating constipation and efficacy in preventing the recurrence of faecal impaction.

Age Factors↗

The fermentation of lactulose by colonic bacteria.

Sixty-four strains of intestinal bacteria were cultured under anaerobic conditions in lactulose-containing media to assess their ability to ferment lactulose. Some organisms were unable to metabolize the disaccharide, while others, e.g. clostridia and lactobacilli, metabolized lactulose extensively. Quantitative analyses of the fermentation products indicated that the major non-gaseous metabolites were acetic, lactic and butyric acids. Hydrogen and carbon dioxide were the only gases detected. Fermentation products were estimated for selected species throughout their growth cycles. The products of fermentation of lactulose by stool cultures varied with incubation conditions such as pH, but correlated well with those produced by pure cultures. These results are discussed in relation to the therapeutic uses of lactulose.

Bacteria↗

A comparative study: the efficacy of liquid paraffin and lactulose in management of chronic functional constipation.

OBJECTIVES: To determine and compare efficacy, safety and optimal dose of two laxatives, liquid paraffin and lactulose, in 40 children with chronic functional constipation. METHODS: A total of 20 children were treated with liquid paraffin and 20 with lactulose for 8 weeks and at an initial dose of 1 mL/kg per day for both drugs. The dose was adjusted every 3 days as required and a diary was kept to monitor dose, side-effects, stool frequency and consistency, and other symptoms. RESULTS: During first 4 weeks, improvement in stool consistency and frequency was significantly higher in liquid the paraffin group (P < 0.01 and P < 0.05, respectively). Improvement in the number of stools per week was also significantly higher in the liquid paraffin group during the last 4 weeks of therapy (P < 0.05). Compliance rates averaged 95% in the liquid paraffin group and 90% in the lactulose group during the first 4 weeks of therapy and 90% in the liquid paraffin group and 60% in the lactulose group during the last 4 weeks of therapy (chi(2) = 4.8, SD = 1, P = 0.02). During the first 4 weeks of therapy and during the last 4 weeks of therapy, mostly side-effects and poor symptom control, respectively, influenced the compliance in the liquid paraffin group. CONCLUSIONS: Liquid paraffin is more effective in the treatment of children with constipation. Patients treated with liquid paraffin responded more rapidly than patients responding to lactulose and showed fewer side-effect. It is considered that late response and side-effects in conjunction with poor symptom control influence the patient compliance and the successful treatment of childhood constipation.

Cathartics↗

Breath testing to evaluate lactose intolerance in irritable bowel syndrome correlates with lactulose testing and may not reflect true lactose malabsorption.

OBJECTIVES: An increased prevalence of lactose intolerance is seen in irritable bowel syndrome (IBS). Recently, we demonstrated a high prevalence of abnormal lactulose breath test results in IBS suggesting bacterial overgrowth. Because symptoms of lactose intolerance result from bacterial fermentation, the purpose of this study was to determine whether an abnormal lactose breath test is reflective of malabsorption or early presentation to bacteria. METHODS: Subjects with diarrhea-predominant IBS were enrolled. On day 1, subjects underwent a lactulose breath test after an overnight fast. Within 1 wk, subjects returned after fasting for a lactose breath test with simultaneous blood glucose measurements every 15 min to complete a lactose tolerance test (LTT). Symptoms were evaluated 3 h after lactose administration. RESULTS: Twenty subjects completed the study. One subject inadvertently received dextrose through the intravenous and was excluded. Of the remaining 19 subjects, three (16%) had an abnormal LTT suggesting malabsorption. In all, 10 subjects (53%) had an abnormal lactose breath test, 14 (74%) had an abnormal lactulose breath test, and 11 (58%) had symptoms after lactose administration. The agreement with symptoms was moderate (kappa = 0.47) and fair (kappa = 0.24) when compared to the lactose breath test and LTT, respectively. There was a fair correlation between lactose breath test and LTT (kappa = 0.29). However, lactose breath test hydrogen levels >166 ppm were universally predictive of abnormal LTT. Finally, a significant correlation was seen between the hydrogen production on lactose and lactulose breath test (r = 0.56, p = 0.01). CONCLUSIONS: Lactose breath testing in IBS subjects does not seem to reflect malabsorption; it may be an indicator of abnormal lactulose breath test, suggesting bacterial overgrowth.

Adult↗

Molecular monitoring of the fecal microbiota of healthy human subjects during administration of lactulose and Saccharomyces boulardii.

Diet is a major factor in maintaining a healthy human gastrointestinal tract, and this has triggered the development of functional foods containing a probiotic and/or prebiotic component intended to improve the host's health via modulation of the intestinal microbiota. In this study, a long-term placebo-controlled crossover feeding study in which each subject received several treatments was performed to monitor the effect of a prebiotic substrate (i.e., lactulose), a probiotic organism (i.e., Saccharomyces boulardii), and their synbiotic combination on the fecal microbiota of three groups of 10 healthy human subjects differing in prebiotic dose and/or intake of placebo versus synbiotic. For this purpose, denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis (DGGE) analysis of 16S rRNA gene amplicons was used to detect possible changes in the overall bacterial composition using the universal V(3) primer and to detect possible changes at the subpopulation level using group-specific primers targeting the Bacteroides fragilis subgroup, the genus Bifidobacterium, the Clostridium lituseburense group (cluster XI), and the Clostridium coccoides-Eubacterium rectale group (cluster XIVa). Although these populations remained fairly stable based on DGGE profiling, one pronounced change was observed in the universal fingerprint profiles after lactulose ingestion. Band position analysis and band sequencing revealed that a band appearing or intensifying following lactulose administration could be assigned to the species Bifidobacterium adolescentis. Subsequent analysis with real-time PCR (RT-PCR) indicated a statistically significant increase (P < 0.05) in total bifidobacteria in one of the three subject groups after lactulose administration, whereas a similar but nonsignificant trend was observed in the other two groups. Combined RT-PCR results from two subject groups indicated a borderline significant increase (P = 0.074) of B. adolescentis following lactulose intake. The probiotic yeast S. boulardii did not display any detectable universal changes in the DGGE profiles, nor did it influence the bifidobacterial levels. This study highlighted the capacity of an integrated approach consisting of DGGE analysis and RT-PCR to monitor and quantify pronounced changes in the fecal microbiota of healthy subjects upon functional food administration.

Adult↗

Effect of four days of preoperative lactulose on posthaemorrhoidectomy pain: results of placebo controlled trial.

The effect of four days of preoperative lactulose on posthaemorrhoidectomy pain was studied in a prospective double blind randomized trial. All patients received lactulose on admission to hospital, 20 received lactulose for four days before admission, and 22 received placebo. The preoperative lactulose treatment group suffered significantly less pain on defecation for the first four days that they opened their bowels (visual analogue scores in cm: day 1, 4.4 v 5.9; day 2, 4.1 v 6.3; day 3, 4.5 v 6.1; day 4, 4.6 v 6.5), suffered significantly less pain during the first two 24 hour periods after defecation (visual analogue scores in cm: day 1, 5.0 v 7.0; day 2, 3.9 v 6.1), and required significantly less analgesia daily after defecation (0.76 g paracetamol/day v 1.29 g paracetamol/day). These results show that lactulose given for four days preoperatively reduces pain after haemorrhoidectomy.

Clinical Trials as Topic↗