Removing lactose from milk does not delay bowel function or harden stool consistency in lactose-tolerant women

Abstract

Objectives: To investigate whether removing lactose from milk delays bowel function in lactose-tolerant women. We also examined how well the participants' subjective evaluation of the stool consistency according to the Bristol Stool Form Scale correlated with values obtained by dry matter analysis and penetrometry. Subjects and methods: A randomized double-blind cross-over trial. Thirty-three lactose-tolerant women consumed, in random order, 800 ml of lactose-free or ordinary milk per day for 2 weeks, with their main meal, but otherwise followed a lactose-free diet. The subjects estimated stool consistency according to the Bristol Stool Form Scale, registered stool frequency and gastrointestinal symptoms and collected stool samples. Results: The mean intake of lactose was 3.5 and 38.4 g/day during the lactose-free and the ordinary milk periods, respectively. There were no statistically significant differences between the lactose-free and the ordinary milk periods in stool frequency, gastrointestinal symptoms, stool hardness or faecal dry matter. Faecal pH was lower during the lactose-free milk period than in the ordinary milk period. The subjective estimation of stool hardness correlated well with the values obtained by dry matter analysis and penetrometry. Conclusions: Lactose-free milk does not delay bowel function in lactose-tolerant women. The Bristol Stool Form Scale is a useful method of evaluating stool hardness.

A Smartphone Application Using Artificial Intelligence Is Superior To Subject Self-Reporting When Assessing Stool Form

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Validity and reliability of the Bristol Stool Form Scale in healthy adults and patients with diarrhoea‐predominant irritable bowel syndrome

“…In order that the stool models accurately represented the seven types on the BSFS and six intermediate types, 25 models were initially created with a range of water content (50–88%) based on experimental data . These were then evaluated by three experts in gastrointestinal research who independently selected the seven models that best represented the BSFS types (e.g.…”

“…Stool consistency is a central component in the description of normal or altered bowel habit. Stool consistency generally refers to the rheology or viscosity of the stool and is determined largely by stool water content . Rapid intestinal transit limits gastrointestinal water absorption leading to loose or liquid stools, whereas slow intestinal transit results in extensive water absorption leading to harder stools .…”

“…The ability of the scale to correlate with a gold standard measure is key to demonstrating validity (concurrent validity) . Only one known study has assessed concurrent validity of the BSFS, which showed that stool type classified by healthy females was significantly correlated with actual stool hardness (measured with a penetrometer) and actual stool dry matter (measured by oven drying) …”

A Dose-Escalation Study Demonstrates the Safety and Tolerability of Cellobiose in Healthy Subjects

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