Influence of long-term administration of lactulose and Saccharomyces boulardii on the colonic generation of phenolic compounds in healthy human subjects

Objective: Proteins are degraded in the colon by bacterial fermentation into potentially toxic metabolites such as phenolic compounds. The aim of the present study was to investigate whether long-term administration of lactulose or Saccharomyces boulardii cells would result in a lower protein degradation. In addition, the influence of a long-term dietary intake on different gastrointestinal parameters was investigated. Methods: The effect of long-term intervention of the substrates was evaluated in a randomized, cross-over study in 43 healthy volunteers. At the start of the study and at the end of each 4-week treatment period, urine was collected during 48 h in different fractions and faeces during 72 h. Breath test samples and blood samples were taken to study gastrointestinal parameters. Results: No influence of long-term administration of both substrates was found on GE, OCTT and serum lipids. A significant decrease in small intestinal permeability was found after long-term dietary intervention with lactulose. Long-term administration of lactulose significantly decreased urinary p-cresol excretion, but did not lower fecal p-cresol excretion. No significant effects were observed after S. boulardii intake. Conclusion: The results obtained in present study have indicated that colonic amino acid fermentation can be reduced by the administration of lactulose as a fermentable carbohydrate.