The effects of probiotics in lactose intolerance: A systematic review
Abstract
Over 60 percent of the human population has a reduced ability to digest lactose due to low levels of lactase enzyme activity. Probiotics are live bacteria or yeast that supplements the gastrointestinal flora. Studies have shown that probiotics exhibit various health beneficial properties such as improvement of intestinal health, enhancement of the immune responses, and reduction of serum cholesterol. Accumulating evidence has shown that probiotic bacteria in fermented and unfermented milk products can be used to alleviate the clinical symptoms of lactose intolerance (LI). In this systematic review, the effectiveness of probiotics in the treatment of LI was evaluated using 15 randomized double-blind studies. Eight probiotic strains with the greatest number of proven benefits were studied. Results showed varying degrees of efficacy but an overall positive relationship between probiotics and lactose intolerance.
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Regarding lactose intolerance, variable but generally favorable effects were demonstrated when probiotics were administered.
“Regarding lactose intolerance, variable but generally favorable effects were demonstrated when probiotics were administered [120,121].”
From The Potential Impact of Probiotics on Human Health: An Update on Their Health-Promoting Properties (2024) · cites this paper as [121]
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- Authors
- Oak, S. J., & Jha, R.
- Affiliations
- University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa (US)
- Corresponding author
- Jha, Rajesh
- ORCID
- Jha, Rajesh
- Venue
- Critical Reviews in Food Science and Nutrition
- Publisher
- Informa UK Limited
- Published
- 2018-02-09
- Volume
- 59
- Issue
- 11
- Pages
- 1675-1683
- ISSN
- 1040-8398 (ISSN-L)
- 1549-7852
- OpenAlex
- W2793459212
- Cited by
- 318
- References
- 48
- Citations by year
- 2026: 23 · 2025: 23 · 2024: 45 · 2023: 44 · 2022: 49 · 2021: 60 · 2020: 48 · 2019: 9 · 2018: 16
- FWCI
- 3.36
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- closed
- Locations
- Critical Reviews in Food Science and Nutrition (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- Topics
- Life Sciences › Agricultural and Biological Sciences › Food Science › Probiotics and Fermented Foods
- Life Sciences › Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology › Genetics › Digestive system and related health
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Gastroenterology › Gastrointestinal motility and disorders
- Keywords
- probiotics, lactose intolerance, lactase deficiency, fermented milk, probiotic strains, gut health, immune response, serum cholesterol, symptom relief
- MeSH terms
- Gastrointestinal Microbiome, Animals, Bacteria, Cholesterol, Digestion, Double-Blind Method, Fatty Acids, Volatile, Fermentation, Humans, Lactose, Lactose Intolerance, Milk, Yeasts, Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic, Databases, Factual, Dietary Supplements, Probiotics
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