Beneficial Effects of Long‐Term Consumption of a Probiotic Combination of Lactobacillus casei Shirota and Bifidobacterium breve Yakult May Persist After Suspension of Therapy in Lactose‐Intolerant Patients

Background : The efficacy of some probiotic strains for the management of lactose intolerance remains to be established. Aim :To evaluate the effects of a 4‐week consumption of a probiotic product containing Lactobacillus casei Shirota and Bifidobacterium breve Yakult (10 7 –10 9 CFU of each strain) on symptoms and breath hydrogen exhalation after a lactose load in lactose‐intolerant patients and whether the beneficial results persisted after probiotic discontinuation. Methods : Twenty‐seven patients with lactose maldigestion and intolerance participated in this study, which comprised 4 hydrogen breath tests: baseline condition (20 g lactose), after lactase ingestion (9000 FCC units), at the end of 4‐week probiotic supplementation, and a follow‐up test performed 3 months after probiotic discontinuation. For each test, the area under the breath hydrogen concentration vs time curve (AUC 180 min ) was calculated, and symptom scores were recorded. Results : The probiotic combination significantly reduced symptom scores ( P < .01) and breath hydrogen AUC ( P = .04) compared with the baseline condition. The comparison with the lactase test showed that symptom scores were similar ( P > .05), despite the significantly higher ( P = .01) AUC values after probiotic use. In the follow‐up test, symptom scores and breath hydrogen AUC values remained similar to those found at the end of probiotic intervention. Conclusion : Four‐week consumption of a probiotic combination of L casei Shirota and B breve Yakult seems to improve symptoms and decrease hydrogen production intake in lactose‐intolerant patients. These effects may persist for at least 3 months after suspension of probiotic consumption.