How much do you know about lactulose?
2024-10-28
Constipation is one of the common symptoms in our daily life. Among them, the total incidence rate of elderly patients and patients with advanced tumors is 15%, while the incidence rate of advanced patients can be as high as 50%~70%, and it is even higher for hospitalized patients.
Lactulose, I believe everyone is familiar with it. It is widely used in clinical practice to treat chronic functional constipation, chronic habitual constipation, and regulate the physiological rhythm of the colon.
So, what is the effect of lactulose in treating constipation? Can liquid lactulose be administered rectally? Is lactulose safe? And other questions, I believe you will have more understanding after reading this article.
Lactulose, I believe everyone is familiar with it. It is widely used in clinical practice to treat chronic functional constipation, chronic habitual constipation, and regulate the physiological rhythm of the colon.
So, what is the effect of lactulose in treating constipation? Can liquid lactulose be administered rectally? Is lactulose safe? And other questions, I believe you will have more understanding after reading this article.
1. What is lactulose?
Lactulose is a disaccharide synthesized from D-galactose and fructose, and is an osmotic laxative.
There is no enzyme in the human gastrointestinal tract that can decompose lactulose. The lactulose that is drunk usually reaches the colon in the form of the original lactulose. The colon has a bacterial group that can decompose lactulose and can decompose lactulose into small, low-molecular-weight organic acids - lactic acid and acetic acid.
These small molecular compounds are usually not absorbed in the colon; while a large amount of high-concentration organic acids can produce a higher osmotic pressure in the colon, which can absorb a large amount of water outside the intestinal cavity into the intestinal cavity through the colon wall, greatly increasing the water content and capacity of the colon contents, thereby stimulating the peristalsis of the colon and promoting the excretion of stool.
The stimulating effect of the metabolites of lactulose on the colon helps to regulate the physiological function of the colon and restore the physiological rhythm of the colon.
Lactulose is also a prebiotic that helps promote the growth of beneficial intestinal flora. In the early stages of hepatic encephalopathy or coma, lactulose can promote the growth of intestinal acidophiles (such as lactobacilli), inhibit the proliferation of protease and ammonia-producing bacteria, and reduce the accumulation and absorption of endotoxins, thereby playing a role in treating hepatic encephalopathy.
There is no enzyme in the human gastrointestinal tract that can decompose lactulose. The lactulose that is drunk usually reaches the colon in the form of the original lactulose. The colon has a bacterial group that can decompose lactulose and can decompose lactulose into small, low-molecular-weight organic acids - lactic acid and acetic acid.
These small molecular compounds are usually not absorbed in the colon; while a large amount of high-concentration organic acids can produce a higher osmotic pressure in the colon, which can absorb a large amount of water outside the intestinal cavity into the intestinal cavity through the colon wall, greatly increasing the water content and capacity of the colon contents, thereby stimulating the peristalsis of the colon and promoting the excretion of stool.
The stimulating effect of the metabolites of lactulose on the colon helps to regulate the physiological function of the colon and restore the physiological rhythm of the colon.
Lactulose is also a prebiotic that helps promote the growth of beneficial intestinal flora. In the early stages of hepatic encephalopathy or coma, lactulose can promote the growth of intestinal acidophiles (such as lactobacilli), inhibit the proliferation of protease and ammonia-producing bacteria, and reduce the accumulation and absorption of endotoxins, thereby playing a role in treating hepatic encephalopathy.
2. Who is lactulose suitable for?
Lactulose is suitable for patients with acute, chronic or habitual constipation. It can be taken by the elderly, children, pregnant women and breastfeeding mothers. It is a laxative suitable for all ages.
In addition to constipation, lactulose can also be used to treat patients with hepatic encephalopathy.
In addition to constipation, lactulose can also be used to treat patients with hepatic encephalopathy.
3. Does lactulose affect blood sugar?
Currently, there are two types of lactulose oral solution used clinically, 200mL/bottle and 15mL/bag. (100mL lactulose oral solution contains 67g lactulose, galactose <10g, and lactose <6g. 15mL lactulose oral solution contains 10.05g lactulose, galactose <1.5g, and lactose <0.9g.)
Lactulose: In the stomach and small intestine, it is coated on the inner surface of the digestive tract in the form of a lubricant and is not absorbed at all. Therefore, after drinking lactulose, people's blood sugar does not rise.
At the dose for constipation treatment, the absorbable sugar content in lactulose oral solution is very small (e.g. 15 ml lactulose oral solution contains 10 g lactulose, 1.5 g galactose, 1 g lactose and 0.1 g fructose, equivalent to about 10.2 kcal of calories at most), and the effect on blood sugar is very small. Diabetic patients can safely use lactulose to relieve constipation.
However, the excipients of lactulose oral solution produced by some manufacturers contain sucrose, caramel, etc., which may have a certain impact on the blood sugar of diabetic patients. It is necessary to carefully check the ingredient list in the drug instructions.
However, the excipients of lactulose oral solution produced by some manufacturers contain sucrose, caramel, etc., which may have a certain impact on the blood sugar of diabetic patients. It is necessary to carefully check the ingredient list in the drug instructions.
4. What are the side effects of lactulose?
Lactulose has good safety. Since it is not absorbed into the blood, it does not need to be metabolized by the liver and excreted by the kidneys. It will not damage the liver or kidneys, and will hardly cause systemic toxic side effects.
Some patients may experience abdominal distension and nausea in the early stage of treatment, which usually disappears after continuing to take the medicine or diluting it with one-fold water.
If the dose is higher than the recommended therapeutic dose, gastrointestinal symptoms such as abdominal pain and diarrhea may occur. At this time, the dose should be reduced or the drug should be stopped.
If taken in large doses for a long time (usually only seen in the treatment of hepatic encephalopathy), the patient may have electrolyte imbalance due to diarrhea. At this time, it is necessary to seek medical attention in time to correct the electrolyte imbalance.
Some patients may experience abdominal distension and nausea in the early stage of treatment, which usually disappears after continuing to take the medicine or diluting it with one-fold water.
If the dose is higher than the recommended therapeutic dose, gastrointestinal symptoms such as abdominal pain and diarrhea may occur. At this time, the dose should be reduced or the drug should be stopped.
If taken in large doses for a long time (usually only seen in the treatment of hepatic encephalopathy), the patient may have electrolyte imbalance due to diarrhea. At this time, it is necessary to seek medical attention in time to correct the electrolyte imbalance.
Overall, lactulose is a safe and effective laxative that can improve bowel function and liver health.
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