THE EFFECT OF LACTITOL INTAKE UPON STOOL PARAMETERS AND THE FECAL BACTERIAL-FLORA IN CHRONICALLY CONSTIPATED WOMEN

Thirteen healthy adult women, suffering from long-standing chronic con stipation, were enrolled into a trial of 8 weeks duration. They were f irst administered placebo powder for a laxative-free run-in period of 2 weeks, then lactitol at a flexible, individually adaptable dose for 4 weeks, followed by another two week follow-up period, again on place bo. Throughout the trial the participants kept a daily record of medic ation intake and bowel habits and collected isolated or 24-h stool sam ples at given intervals. The samples were analysed in terms of wet and dry weight, bacterial population, and volatile fatty acid concentrati on. Results in 11 participants showed that lactitol intake was followe d by statistically significant improvements in stool characteristics ( increase in wet & dry weight, softer consistency) as well as in microb iological variables (increase in total viable bacterial count and in a naerobic fermentative strains). In conclusion, it can be stated that t he beneficial macroscopic changes observed in stool characteristics ar e the reflection of lactitol acting as an energy substrate for anaerob ic fermenting commensal bacteria.