The Changes in the Breath Hydrogen Concentration after the Ingestion of Bifidobacterium breve KY-16 in the Lactose Malabsorbers

Park, Min Jung; Lee, Jin Hyuk; Kim, Kyung A; Kim, Joo Sung; Jung, Hyun Chae; Song, In Sung; Kim, Chung Yong

Abstract

BACKGROUND/AIMS: The breath hydrogen concentration reflects colonic floral salvage pathway for malabsorbed carbohydrates. We investigated the effect of Bifidobacterium breve KY-16 ingestion on colonic floral changes in the lactase deficient subjects by measuring breath hydrogen production and on lactose intolerance symptom.
METHODS
Twenty-six lactase deficient subjects were included in this study. Their lactase deficiency and milk intolerance symptoms were confirmed by milk-hydrogen breath tests and interviews. Then, they ingested Bifidobacterium breve KY-16 of 1 pack/day for 5 days. On the 6th day, milk-hydrogen breath tests and interviews were conducted. The subjects converted to negative criteria were retested on the 10th day.
RESULTS
On the 6th day, 12 of the 26 subjects were converted to negative criteria on milk-hydrogen breath tests. Nine of the 12 subjects were retested on the 10th day. Seven of 9 subjects had continuous negative changes. There were no significant changes in intolerance symptoms after bifidobacteria ingestion, but initial intolerance symptoms were significantly fewer in the converters than in the non-converters (p<0.05).
CONCLUSIONS
Bifidobacterium breve KY-16 ingestion in the lactase deficient subjects changed breath hydrogen concentration which reflects colonic floral salvage pathway. Additionally, these changes were lasted until 5 days after cessation. However, there was no significant change in milk intolerance symptoms.