DOES LACTOSE MALDIGESTION REALLY PLAY A ROLE IN THE IRRITABLE BOWEL

Patients who met International. Congress of Gastroenterology criteria for irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) and had breath hydrogen lactose tes ting were interviewed to determine whether detection of lactose maldig estion (LM) had an impact on their symptoms. Of 199 patients initially evaluated, 161 (81%) were contacted and asked to rate their symptoms. At baseline, 47 (29%) of the IBS group had LM. Before testing, 23 (49 %) were aware that ingestion of lactose-containing food was associated with their gastrointestinal symptoms. Lactose-maldigesting IBS subjec ts (IBSLM, n = 47) and those who had IBS and no LM (n = 114) were simi lar in terms of age, sex, and ethnic background. Interviews performed 41 +/- 1.1 (SEM) months after baseline evaluation revealed no signific ant differences in abdominal pain, altered bowel habits, bloating/dist ension, mucus, and relief with defecation among those with IBS or LMIB S. Overall symptoms resolved, improved, did not change, or worsened in a manner not statistically different between IBS and IBSLM groups. IB SLM subjects (a) felt that identifying LM helped them gain awareness o f food-symptom relationships (78.7%), (b) experienced some improvement in symptoms (83%), (c) were avoiding lactose foods (87.2%), or (d) us ed lactase enzyme supplements (38.3%). Identifying LM did not signific antly affect rated variables.