The Effects of Exogenous Lactase on Improving Gastrointestinal Symp-toms in Patients with Lactose Intolerance

Lactose intolerance is common in Asian population. Enzyme replacement therapy facilitates consumption of milk and dairy products for patients with lactose intolerance. Clinical evidence in our clinics indicates a nonhomogeneity in improvement of symptoms after ingestion of solid form of exogenous lactase enzyme in patients. Therefore, we designed this study to evaluate the effectiveness of oral solid lactase enzyme in the clinical symptoms of patients with lactose intolerance in Arak city. This randomized double blind placebo controlled trial was performed on 50 adult symptomatic patients with lactose intolerance. Average age of the patients was 37.4 years and 44% were men. Every patient took lactase and placebo for one week respectively. Effects of these treatments on gastrointestinal symptom of patients were gathered by symptom evaluation questionnaire. Results were analyzed by SPSS software. The mean improvement of abdominal pain score after lactase was 1.56 ± 2.51 (P < 0.001) and after placebo was 0.54 ± 0 (P < 0.001). The mean improvement of flatulence score after lactase was 1.6 ± 1.91 (P < 0.001) and after placebo was 0.42 ± 0.94 (P = 0.03). The mean improvement of bloating score after lactase was 1.62 ± 1.79 (P < 0.001) and after placebo was 0.56 (P < 0.001) ± 0.88. The mean improvement of diarrhea score after lactase was 2.70 ± 3.06 (P < 0.001) and after placebo was 0.54 ± 0.99 (P < 0.001). The mean improvement of nausea and vomiting score after lactase was 0.24 ± 0.89 (P = 0.63) and after placebo was 0.04 ± 0.19 (P = 0.15). After ingestion of lactase, 19 patients had no improvement in abdominal pain score, 12 patients in flatulence score, 3 patients in nausea and vomiting score, 17 patients in bloating score, and 7 patients had no improvement in diarrhea score. Lactase tablets significantly reduced clinical symptoms associated with lactose intolerance compared with placebo; but improvement of symptoms were variable between patients.