For the Lactose Intolerant, Move Over Probiotics

Approximately 40 million Americans suffer from the symptoms of lactose intolerance—an inability to digest lactose, a type of sugar found in milk. 

Symptoms include diarrhea, gas, abdominal pain, bloating, nausea, and vomiting. Some simply avoid dairy products altogether, while others seek out lactose-free products or consume lactase pills that aid with digestion. 

There is a promising new treatment on the horizon: a prebiotic known as RP- G28, which is in stage 3 clinical trials. It works by stimulating the growth of lactose-metabolizing bacteria. Data from clinical-trial participants has yielded encouraging results, including a reduction in unpleasant symptoms of lactose intolerance and a remarkable 78% increase in the lactose-metabolizing bacteria known as bifidobacterial. 

Ritter Pharmaceuticals, the maker of RP-G28, perceives its prebiotic as superior to probiotic supplements, which produce variable results.