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Central Washington University

The Effect of Probiotics, Prebiotics, and Synbiotics on Indicators of Lactose Intolerance: A Systematic Review

Abstract

dc:description.abstract

<p>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 <em>Bifidobacterium longum</em>, <em>Lactobacillus acidophilus</em>, <em>Lactobacillus delbrueckii</em> subspecies <em>bulgaricus</em>, and/or <em>Streptococcus thermophilus</em>. Inoculated dairy products also showed strong evidence for the attenuation of lactose intolerance outcomes.</p>

Degree

thesis:*
Name thesis:degree_name
Master of Science (MS)
Discipline thesis:degree_discipline
Nutrition
Year dc:date.available
2021

Author and committee

dc:creator, dc:contributor.*
Author dc:creator
  • Roice, Taylor
Contributors dc:contributor
  • Susan Hawk
  • David Gee
  • Tafere Belay

Subjects

dc:subject × 7

Identifiers

dc:identifier.*
Repository record dc:identifier
https://digitalcommons.cwu.edu/etd/1518
OAI identifier oai:identifier
oai:digitalcommons.cwu.edu:etd-2543

Chain of custody

source
Harvested from
Central Washington University
Base URL
digitalcommons.cwu.edu/do/oai/
Last updated
2026-07-24
Source record
OAI-PMH GetRecord
citation

Roice, Taylor. The Effect of Probiotics, Prebiotics, and Synbiotics on Indicators of Lactose Intolerance: A Systematic Review. 2021. https://digitalcommons.cwu.edu/etd/1518