Lactose intolerance is a common condition caused by lactase deficiency and may result in symptoms of lactose malabsorption (bloating, flatulence, abdominal discomfort, and change in bowel habits). As current data is limited, the aim of our study was to assess the efficacy of probiotics with a β-galactosidase activity on symptoms of lactose malabsorption and on the lactose hydrogen breath test (LHBT). The study group comprised eight symptomatic female patients with a positive LHBT. Patients were treated for 6 months with a probiotic formula with β-galactosidase activity (Bio-25, Ambrosia-SupHerb, Israel). All patients completed a demographic questionnaire as well as a diary for the assessment of symptom severity and frequency at entry, every 8 weeks, and at the end of the treatment period. Measurements of hydrogen (H₂) levels (parts per million, ppm) at each of these time points were also performed. End points were a decrease of 50% in symptom severity or frequency, and the normalization (decrease below cutoff point of 20 ppm) of the breath test. Mean age and mean body mass index (BMI) were 36.4 ± 18.6 years and 23.2 kg/m², respectively. Compared to baseline scores, the frequency of most symptoms, and the severity of bloating and flatulence, improved after treatment. Normalization of LHBT was obtained in only two patients (25%). In this pilot study, Bio-25, a unique formulation of probiotics with β-galactosidase activity, demonstrated symptom resolution in most patients with lactose malabsorption. A larger randomized trial is warranted to confirm these preliminary findings.

中文翻译：

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新型益生菌制剂减轻乳糖不耐症症状的初步研究。

乳糖不耐症是乳糖酶缺乏症引起的常见疾病，并可能导致乳糖吸收不良的症状（腹胀，肠胃气胀，腹部不适和排便习惯改变）。由于目前的数据有限，我们的研究目的是评估具有β-半乳糖苷酶活性的益生菌对乳糖吸收不良症状和乳糖氢呼气试验（LHBT）的功效。研究组包括八名LHBT阳性的有症状女性患者。使用具有β-半乳糖苷酶活性的益生菌配方（Bio-25，Ambrosia-SupHerb，以色列）对患者进行了6个月的治疗。所有患者在入院时，每8周和治疗期结束时填写一份人口统计学调查表以及日记，以评估症状的严重程度和频率。氢气（H ₂）水平（百万分之一，ppm）在每个时间点也进行了。终点是症状严重程度或频率降低了50％，呼气试验的正常化（降低到低于20 ppm的临界点）。平均年龄和平均体重指数（BMI）分别为36.4±18.6岁和23.2 kg / m ²。与基线评分相比，大多数症状的发生频率以及腹胀和肠胃气胀的严重程度在治疗后有所改善。仅两名患者（25％）获得了LHBT的正常化。在这项初步研究中，Bio-25是一种具有β-半乳糖苷酶活性的益生菌的独特配方，它在大多数乳糖吸收不良的患者中证明了症状的缓解。有必要进行较大规模的随机试验以确认这些初步发现。