Bacillus coagulans GBI-30, 6086 (BC30) improves lactose digestion in rats exposed to a high-lactose meal.

2023-05-30
European journal of nutrition 62(6)

PubMed: 37249602
DOI: 10.1007/s00394-023-03183-z

Study Design

Sample size: n = 10
Population: Wistar female rats
Methods: Wistar female rats were exposed to an acute high-lactose diet (LD; 35% lactose) meal challenge after 7 days of administration of BC30 (LD-BC; n = 10) or vehicle (LD-C; n = 10). Rats treated with vehicle and exposed to control diet (CD; 35% corn starch) meal were used as controls (CD-C; n = 10). Carbohydrate oxidation (CH_OX) and lipid oxidation (L_OX) were monitored by indirect calorimetry before and after lactose challenge. After the challenge, rats were treated daily with vehicle or probiotic for an additional week and were fed with CD or LD ad libitum to determine the effects of BC30 administration in a lactose-induced diarrhoea and malnutrition model.

Rigorous Journal
Animal Study

Purpose

Bacillus coagulans GBI-30, 6086 (BC30) was previously shown to improve nutrient digestibility and amino acid absorption from milk protein in vitro. However, the effect of supplementation with this probiotic on lactose digestibility has not yet been evaluated in vivo.

Methods

Wistar female rats were exposed to an acute high-lactose diet (LD; 35% lactose) meal challenge after 7 days of administration of BC30 (LD-BC; n = 10) or vehicle (LD-C; n = 10). Rats treated with vehicle and exposed to control diet (CD; 35% corn starch) meal were used as controls (CD-C; n = 10). Carbohydrate oxidation (CH_OX) and lipid oxidation (L_OX) were monitored by indirect calorimetry before and after lactose challenge. After the challenge, rats were treated daily with vehicle or probiotic for an additional week and were fed with CD or LD ad libitum to determine the effects of BC30 administration in a lactose-induced diarrhoea and malnutrition model.

Results

LD-C rats showed lower CH_OX levels than CD rats, while LD-BC rats showed similar CH_OX levels compared to CD rats during the lactose challenge, suggesting a better digestion of lactose in the rats supplemented with BC30. BC30 completely reversed the increase in the small intestine length of LD-C animals. LD-BC rats displayed increased intestinal mRNA Muc2 expression. No significant changes were observed due to BC30 administration in other parameters, such as serum calprotectin, intestinal MPO activity, intestinal A1AT and SGLT1 levels or intestinal mRNA levels of Claudin2 and Occludin.

Conclusion

Treatment with BC30 improved the digestibility of lactose in an acute lactose challenge and ameliorated some of the parameters associated with lactose-induced malnutrition.

Research Insights

Supplement	Dose	Health Outcome	Effect Type	Effect Size	Source
Bacillus coagulans GBI-30, 6086	—	Improved Lactose Digestion	Beneficial	Moderate	View source LD-BC rats showed similar CH_OX levels compared to CD rats during the lactose challenge, suggesting a better digestion of lactose in the rats supplemented with BC30.
Bacillus coagulans GBI-30, 6086	—	Improved Lactose-Associated Malnutrition	Beneficial	Small	View source Treatment with BC30 improved the digestibility of lactose in an acute lactose challenge and ameliorated some of the parameters associated with lactose-induced malnutrition.
Bacillus coagulans GBI-30, 6086	—	Improved Small Intestine Length	Beneficial	Small	View source BC30 completely reversed the increase in the small intestine length of LD-C animals.