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[Lactose intolerance in chronic inflammatory bowel diseases]
D Hüppe1, A Tromm, H Langhorst
1Abteilung für Gastroenterologie und Hepatologie, Berufsgenossenschaftliche Krankenanstalten Bergmannsheil, Klinikum der Ruhr-Universität Bochum.
Deutsche Medizinische Wochenschrift (1946)
|October 9, 1992
Summary
Lactose intolerance is more common in Crohn's disease patients (16.9%) than in ulcerative colitis patients (3.8%). Routine testing for lactose intolerance is recommended for inflammatory bowel disease diagnosis and prognosis.
Area of Science:
- Gastroenterology
- Internal Medicine
- Clinical Diagnostics
Background:
- Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), encompassing Crohn's disease (CD) and ulcerative colitis (UC), affects a significant patient population.
- Lactose intolerance is a common gastrointestinal condition that can exacerbate IBD symptoms.
- The prevalence and diagnostic significance of lactose intolerance in IBD patients require further investigation.
Purpose of the Study:
- To prospectively determine the incidence of lactose intolerance in patients diagnosed with Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis.
- To investigate the relationship between lactose intolerance and disease characteristics, including location, activity, and surgical history in CD.
- To assess the utility of routine lactose intolerance testing in the diagnostic and prognostic evaluation of IBD.
Main Methods:
- Prospective study involving 124 patients with Crohn's disease and 53 patients with ulcerative colitis.
- Lactose intolerance assessed using hydrogen (H2) breath tests and blood glucose concentration measurements.
- Oro-caecal transit time measured via lactulose H2 breath test to rule out confounding factors like bacterial overgrowth or rapid transit.
Main Results:
- A significantly higher incidence of lactose intolerance was observed in Crohn's disease patients (16.9%) compared to ulcerative colitis patients (3.8%; P < 0.05).
- Lactose intolerance in CD was found to be independent of inflammatory site, disease activity, and extent of small intestine resection.
- Oro-caecal transit times were similar across all patient groups, and no lactose intolerance was detected in patients with abnormal small intestinal bacterial colonization.
Conclusions:
- Lactose intolerance is a prevalent comorbidity in Crohn's disease, occurring at a higher rate than in ulcerative colitis.
- The findings suggest lactose intolerance is not directly linked to disease-specific factors like inflammation extent or bacterial issues in CD.
- Routine screening for lactose intolerance is recommended for all patients with Crohn's disease or ulcerative colitis due to its diagnostic and prognostic implications.