Low-Dose Lactulose as a Prebiotic for Improved Gut Health and Enhanced Mineral Absorption

Abstract

Although medium and high doses of lactulose are used routinely for the treatment of constipation and hepatic encephalopathy, respectively, a wealth of evidence demonstrates that, at low doses, lactulose can also be used as a prebiotic to stimulate the growth of health-promoting bacteria in the gastrointestinal tract. Indeed, multiple preclinical and clinical studies have shown that low doses of lactulose enhance the proliferation of health-promoting gut bacteria (e.g., Bifidobacterium and Lactobacillus spp.) and increase the production of beneficial metabolites [e.g., short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs)], while inhibiting the growth of potentially pathogenic bacteria (e.g., certain clostridia). SCFAs produced upon microbial fermentation of lactulose, the most abundant of which is acetate, are likely to contribute to immune regulation, which is important not only within the gut itself, but also systemically and for bone health. Low-dose lactulose has also been shown to enhance the absorption of minerals such as calcium and magnesium from the gut, an effect which may have important implications for bone health. This review provides an overview of the preclinical and clinical evidence published to date showing that low-dose lactulose stimulates the growth of health-promoting gut bacteria, inhibits the growth of pathogenic bacteria, increases the production of beneficial metabolites, improves mineral absorption, and has good overall tolerability. Implications of these data for the use of lactulose as a prebiotic are also discussed.

Lactulose Modulates the Structure of Gut Microbiota and Alleviates Colitis-Associated Tumorigenesis

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Role of Dietary Supplements and Probiotics in Modulating Microbiota and Bone Health: The Gut-Bone Axis

“…Finally, oral supplementation of lactulose (20 gr/kg per 6 weeks) inhibits osteoclastogenesis, reduces bone resorption, and prevents ovariectomy-induced bone loss in mice [ 66 ], while increasing calcium and magnesium absorption in both men and postmenopausal women [ 67 , 68 ].…”

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“…Впровадження інтенсивних технологій виробництва продукції птахівництва, в т. ч. бройлерного, передбачають застосування різноманітних, екологічно нешкідливих нутріцевтиків, серед яких вітаміни, пробіотики, пребіотики, макро-і мікроелементи тощо (Berri, 2015;Baştürk et al, 2016;Podolyan, 2017;Şanlier et al, 2017;Kasyanenko et al, 2018;Rahimi et al, 2019;Lyasota & Kolodka, 2020;Karadag et al, 2020;Skvortsova, 2020;Konopelko & Lyasota, 2021;Areq Yahya, 2021;Karakan et al, 2021;Ciftciler & Ciftciler, 2021;Kaur et al, 2021;Fabiano et al, 2021;Sanlier & Kocabas, 2021).…”