The role of colonic metabolism in lactose intolerance
Open Access
- 17 July 2008
- journal article
- review article
- Published by Wiley in European Journal of Clinical Investigation
- Vol. 38 (8), 541-547
- https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1365-2362.2008.01966.x
Abstract
Lactose maldigestion and intolerance affect a large part of the world population. The underlying factors of lactose intolerance are not fully understood. In this review, the role of colonic metabolism is discussed, i.e. fermentation of lactose by the colonic microbiota, colonic processing of the fermentation metabolites and how these processes would play a role in the pathophysiology of lactose intolerance. We suggest that the balance between the removal and production rate of osmotic–active components (lactose, and intermediate metabolites, e.g. lactate, succinate, etc.) in the colon is a key factor in the development of symptoms. The involvement of the colon may provide the basis for designing new targeted strategies for dietary and clinical management of lactose intolerance.Keywords
This publication has 66 references indexed in Scilit:
- Probiotic modulation of symbiotic gut microbial–host metabolic interactions in a humanized microbiome mouse modelMolecular Systems Biology, 2008
- The Human Microbiome ProjectNature, 2007
- Metaproteomics Approach To Study the Functionality of the Microbiota in the Human Infant Gastrointestinal TractApplied and Environmental Microbiology, 2007
- Mechanisms underlying the resistance to diet-induced obesity in germ-free miceProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America, 2007
- An obesity-associated gut microbiome with increased capacity for energy harvestNature, 2006
- Sugar malabsorption in functional abdominal bloating: A pilot study on the long-term effect of dietary treatmentClinical Nutrition, 2006
- Metagenomic Analysis of the Human Distal Gut MicrobiomeScience, 2006
- Obesity alters gut microbial ecologyProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America, 2005
- Host-Bacterial Mutualism in the Human IntestineScience, 2005
- Drug-Induced DiarrhoeaDrug Safety, 2000