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Updated: Jun 18, 2026

An In Vitro Batch-culture Model to Estimate the Effects of Interventional Regimens on Human Fecal Microbiota
Published on: July 31, 2019
Lack of effect of lactose digestion status on baseline fecal micoflora
Andrew Szilagyi1, Ian Shrier, George Chong
1Division of Gastroenterology, Department of Medicine, Sir Mortimer B Davis Jewish General Hospital, McGill University School of Medicine, Montreal, Canada. aszilagy@gas.jgh.mcgill.ca
Background:
The genetics of intestinal lactase divide the world's population into two phenotypes: the ability (a dominant trait) or inability (a recessive trait) to digest lactose. A prebiotic effect of lactose may impact the colonic flora of these phenotypes differently.
Objective:
To detect and evaluate the effects of lactose on subjects divided according to their ability to digest lactose.
Methods:
A total of 57 healthy maldigesters (n=30) and digesters (n=27) completed diet questionnaires, genetic and breath hydrogen testing, and quantitative stool analysis for species of bacteria. Log10 transformation of bacterial counts was compared with lactose intake in both groups using multiple regression analysis.
Results:
There was a significant relationship between genetic and breath hydrogen tests. Daily lactose intake was marginally lower in lactose maldigesters (median [interquartile range] 12.2 g [31 g] versus 15 g [29.6 g], respectively). There was no relationship between lactose intake and breath hydrogen tests in either group. There were no differences in bacterial counts between the two groups, nor was there a relationship between bacterial counts and lactose intake in either group.
Conclusion:
The differential bacterial effects of lactose were not quantitatively detected in stool samples taken in the present study.
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