Review article: lactose--a potential prebiotic

Lactose maldigestion, which affects a large majority of the world's population, has been mostly linked with uncomfortable symptoms. In addition, dairy consumption is variably blamed or recommended for a number of ill effects. There is, however, emerging evidence that certain lactic acid-producing bacteria, which selectively consume prebiotics, may be beneficial against some lower intestinal diseases. Lactose maldigestion and lactose should perhaps be re-evaluated as a potential provider of such a prebiotic. This historical and observational review discusses lactose and argues the opinion that it has prebiotic potential. Moreover, in maldigesters, natural ingestion or lack thereof may be relevant in the pathogenesis of diseases such as colorectal cancer and inflammatory bowel diseases.