Lactulose

• 4-O- β -D - galactopyranosyl-D - fructofuranose

A06AD11

Colorless crystals or solution

Laxative

163-165 ° C

18.16 g · kg -1 ( LD50, rat, oral)

Template: Infobox chemical / molecular formula search available

Lactulose, lactulose and is a synthetic disaccharide ( disaccharide ), consisting of D-galactose and fructose, obtained by isomerization ( migration ) of lactose (milk sugar ) is obtained. This de Bruyn -van- Ekenstein rearrangement takes place in an alkaline environment or at high temperature. Lactulose thus produced in a low concentration even when the heat treatment of milk. The lactulose concentration of the milk can be used as an indicator of such treatment. Typical concentrations are below 50 mg / kg in pasteurized and 100 to 500 mg / kg in UHT milk; sterilized milk may contain up to 1400 mg of lactulose per kg milk. In raw milk, lactulose is not detectable. Lactulose is one of the reducing sugars. Lactulose for use as a laxative or prebiotic may be prepared using immobilized enzymbiotechnologisch β -galactosidase.

Properties and Uses

Lactulose can not be utilized by the human body as opposed to lactose. This explains the use of lactulose as an osmotic laxative ( laxative ), because the sugar in the intestine can not be absorbed and by binding of water, the intestinal volume can increase, leading to a soft chair. The mechanism of action of lactulose is based in addition to the osmotic effect on the partial degradation (or fermentation) by intestinal bacteria, including lactobacilli and bifidobacteria at mainly low molecular weight fatty acids, hydrogen and methane. This is also referred to as bifidogenic or prebiotic effect of lactulose, as the growth of these bacteria can be enhanced. Due to the resulting acids and the increase in bacterial mass in the large intestine peristalsis is stimulated and strengthened the laxative effect.

Another indication for the administration of lactulose is hepatic encephalopathy ( syn. portocaval encephalopathy ) in cirrhosis: lactulose affects the intestinal flora in such a way that lactic acid-producing intestinal bacteria are favored. This ammonia forming gut bacteria are suppressed and their urease, which catalyzes a reaction of ammonia formation is inhibited. Moreover, it is protonated at the now lower pH ammonia to ammonium, which is excreted as a salt with the chair. In portocaval encephalopathy lactulose reduces blood ammonia concentration by about 25-50 %, and it can be expected within a few hours to a few days to a therapeutic effect.

Proof

The determination of lactulose, in addition the enzymatic methods based on the hydrolysis of lactulose, by chromatographic techniques ( gas chromatography and HPLC ), and by fluorescence spectroscopy.

Trade names

Bifinorm (D), Bifiteral (D), lactulose ratiopharm syrup ( D), Laevolac (A), Duphalac (CH), Eugalac (D), Gatinar (CH), Legendal (CH), Rudolac (CH), Tulotract ( D ), numerous generics (D)

Eugalan (D)