Lactose intolerance in different types of irritable bowel syndrome in north Indians.

BACKGROUND

Twenty-five patients of irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) and 25 normal healthy individuals serving as controls, were studied for lactose intolerance.

METHODS

Hydrogen breath test was used as an investigation after giving 50 g of oral lactose. Clinically, the patients were classified into 3 types of IBS.

RESULTS

Eleven (44%) out of 25 patients belonged to diarrhoeal type of IBS, 7 (28%) of 25 patients to spastic and rest 7 (28%) of 25 patients had features of both types of symptoms. Lactose hydrogen breath test was abnormal in 9 cases (82%) of 11 diarrhoeal type of IBS which was significantly higher (p < 0.02) than controls. However, the difference of abnormal hydrogen breath test between spastic type of IBS and patients with features of both types was not significant as compared to controls.

CONCLUSIONS

These results suggest that patients with diarrhoeal type of IBS have a higher incidence of lactose intolerance as compared to spastic type as well as patients with features of both types.