Document Type
Thesis
Date of Degree Completion
Spring 2021
Degree Name
Master of Science (MS)
Department
Nutrition
Committee Chair
Susan Hawk
Second Committee Member
David Gee
Third Committee Member
Tafere Belay
Abstract
Lactose intolerance disproportionately affects racial minority groups in the United States, increasing the incidence of calcium deficiency and low bone mineral density in these populations. The nutritional quality of lactose-containing food products incentivizes the investigation of long-term treatment options for lactose intolerance. Modifying the gut microbiome to increase the quantity of lactose-hydrolyzing bacteria in the intestines is a promising avenue of treatment that merits investigation. Such modification is typically achieved via consumption of probiotics, prebiotics, or synbiotics in various forms. This systematic review examined 25 studies measuring outcomes of lactose intolerance in subjects given probiotic, prebiotic, or synbiotic treatments. Bacterial strains with the greatest degree of evidence for the reduction of undesirable outcomes of lactose intolerance were Bifidobacterium longum, Lactobacillus acidophilus, Lactobacillus delbrueckii subspecies bulgaricus, and/or Streptococcus thermophilus. Inoculated dairy products also showed strong evidence for the attenuation of lactose intolerance outcomes.
Recommended Citation
Roice, Taylor, "The Effect of Probiotics, Prebiotics, and Synbiotics on Indicators of Lactose Intolerance: A Systematic Review" (2021). All Master's Theses. 1518.
https://digitalcommons.cwu.edu/etd/1518