Beneficial Effects of Long‐Term Consumption of a Probiotic Combination of <i>Lactobacillus casei</i> Shirota and <i>Bifidobacterium breve</i> Yakult May Persist After Suspension of Therapy in Lactose‐Intolerant Patients

<jats:p><jats:italic>Background</jats:italic>: The efficacy of some probiotic strains for the management of lactose intolerance remains to be established. <jats:italic>Aim</jats:italic> :To evaluate the effects of a 4‐week consumption of a probiotic product containing <jats:italic>Lactobacillus casei</jats:italic> Shirota and <jats:italic>Bifidobacterium breve</jats:italic> Yakult (10<jats:sup>7</jats:sup>–10<jats:sup>9</jats:sup> CFU of each strain) on symptoms and breath hydrogen exhalation after a lactose load in lactose‐intolerant patients and whether the beneficial results persisted after probiotic discontinuation. <jats:italic>Methods</jats:italic>: Twenty‐seven patients with lactose maldigestion and intolerance participated in this study, which comprised 4 hydrogen breath tests: baseline condition (20 g lactose), after lactase ingestion (9000 FCC units), at the end of 4‐week probiotic supplementation, and a follow‐up test performed 3 months after probiotic discontinuation. For each test, the area under the breath hydrogen concentration vs time curve (AUC<jats:sub>180 min</jats:sub>) was calculated, and symptom scores were recorded. <jats:italic>Results</jats:italic>: The probiotic combination significantly reduced symptom scores (<jats:italic>P</jats:italic> < .01) and breath hydrogen AUC (<jats:italic>P</jats:italic> = .04) compared with the baseline condition. The comparison with the lactase test showed that symptom scores were similar (<jats:italic>P</jats:italic> > .05), despite the significantly higher (<jats:italic>P</jats:italic> = .01) AUC values after probiotic use. In the follow‐up test, symptom scores and breath hydrogen AUC values remained similar to those found at the end of probiotic intervention. <jats:italic>Conclusion</jats:italic>: Four‐week consumption of a probiotic combination of <jats:italic>L casei</jats:italic> Shirota and <jats:italic>B breve</jats:italic> Yakult seems to improve symptoms and decrease hydrogen production intake in lactose‐intolerant patients. These effects may persist for at least 3 months after suspension of probiotic consumption.</jats:p>