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Low‐dose lactulose produces a tonic contraction in the human colon
Author(s) -
Jouët P.,
Sabaté J.m.,
Cuillerier E.,
Coffin B.,
Lémann M.,
Jian R.,
Flourié B.
Publication year - 2006
Publication title -
neurogastroenterology and motility
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.489
H-Index - 105
eISSN - 1365-2982
pISSN - 1350-1925
DOI - 10.1111/j.1365-2982.2005.00727.x
Subject(s) - lactulose , tonic (physiology) , contraction (grammar) , medicine , gastroenterology , chemistry , pharmacology
Abstract Lactulose (10–20 g day −1 ) is used to treat constipation. At this therapeutic dose, its effects on colonic motility remain unknown. Twenty‐two healthy subjects swallowed a probe with an infusion catheter, six perfused catheters and a balloon connected to a barostat. Colonic phasic and tonic motor activity was recorded in fasting state. In group 1, four volunteers ingested 15 g lactulose and motility was recorded for 5 h after entry of lactulose into the caecum; in group 2, motility was recorded during (3 h) and 2 h after intracolonic infusion of isoosmotic and isovolumetric solutions containing sodium chloride alone ( n = 9) or with 15 g lactulose ( n = 9). In a last group of volunteers, isotopic colonic transit after ingestion of lactulose (10 g, n = 9) was assessed and compared with a control group ( n = 17). Ingestion or intracolonic infusion of 15 g lactulose significantly decreased barostat bag volume (maximal decrease: 45 ± 12% and 35 ± 9% of basal value respectively). Phasic contractions remained unchanged. Tonic and phasic motility was unchanged by the isotonic and isovolumetric infusion of saline. Ingestion of lactulose significantly accelerated isotopic colonic transit time compared with the control group. We conclude that in healthy humans, 10–15 g ingestion or intracaecal infusion of lactulose produces a prolonged tonic contraction that may be involved in the laxative effect of lactulose.