Lactulose

Lactulose is a kind of oligosaccharide obtained from lactose transformation, which is difficult to digest. Its sweetness is about 50% of granulated sugar, and its solubility is high. It has 65% solubility at 30 ℃. Its viscosity is lower than granulated sugar. It is heat-resistant and acid resistant. It will not produce Maillard reaction. Its hygroscopicity is very small, and its preservation is excellent. It can be preserved for more than 2 years at 20 ℃, It is widely used in various health foods and other foods.

Lactulose can be divided into two forms: solid and liquid. Lactulose liquid is colorless to dark yellow transparent liquid with low sweetness, low heat and more than 50% content. Isomerized lactulose powder is white crystal with more than 97% content. It is easy to dissolve in water, has good heat resistance and acid resistance, high safety and easy to use. It is a new type of functional disaccharide and an oligosaccharide with special health care function. Lactulose is a prebiotic, which can proliferate Bifidobacterium, improve intestinal environment and maintain intestinal health.

Published scientific research shows that Lactulose has the following functions in human body:

   ·Inhibit the growth of Escherichia coli and Salmonella ^[1]
   ·Promote the proliferation of Bifidobacterium and Lactobacillus in the intestine ^[2]
   ·Relieve and treat constipation ^[3]
   ·Inhibit the growth of spoilage bacteria, hinder the production of harmful toxins ^[4]

Status：

Functions：

Mechanism：

Lactulose can promote intestinal health in a variety of ways, including:

   ·Through promoting Bifidobacterium proliferation, acidifying the intestinal environment, inhibiting the regeneration of harmful bacteria ^[5]
   ·It can promote the growth of bifidobacteria in infant intestinal tract and improve the metabolic activity of intestinal microbiota ^[6]

Safety：

Safety is crucial for vulnerable groups (such as the elderly and infants). Oral toxicity tests and a large number of clinical studies have confirmed the safety of oral Lactulose, and no adverse reactions were found among the research subjects ^{[7] [8]}. Lactulose has always been safe. It has been certified by FDA gras in food application and infant formula.

[1] 郑重.异构化乳糖的性质及其应用[J].天津微生物,1992,000(001):44-46.

[2] Petuely F．The Bifidus Factor[J]．Deutsche Medizinisehe Wochenschrift．1957，82(46)：19571960．

[3] Tomoda T,NakanoY ,Kageyama T（日本）.Bioscience & Microflora, 1991, 10(2): 123-130.

[4] Patil D H，Westaby D，Mahida Y R，eta1．Comparative modes of action of lactitoland lactulose in the treatmen to the paticen-cephalopathy[J]．Gut 1987，28：255—259．

[5] 郑排云,李克文,张倩,等.乳果糖的应用及生产技术研究进展[J].精细与专用化学品,2017,025(004):42-46.

[6] Macgillivray P C , Finlay H V L , Binns T B . Use of lactulose to create a preponderance of Lactobacilli in the intestine of bottle-fed infants.[J]. Scott Med J, 1959, 4(4):182-189.

[7] Kiyosawa I , Takase M , Yamauchi K , et al. Lactulose and Intestinal Microflora in Infant Nutrition[J]. Bifidobacteria & Microflora, 1986, 5(1):27-35.

[8] 王晓英, 屈昌民, 梁淑文,等. 乳果糖在老年人功能性便秘中的应用[J]. 安徽医药, 2013, 17(003):485-486.