Abstract
Lactosucrose is a non-digestible carbohydrate available for fermentation as a substrate for the intestinal microflora. It has been reported that lactosucrose is selectively used by the Biffidobacterium, and that its number significantly increase after the oral administration. In this study, we have examined the changes of the postoperative serum endotoxin level in ten patients with colorectal cancer. Five patients were served as controls, and the remaining five patients were given 30g of lactosucrose daily, during 1 week up to 3 days before operation. Serum endotoxin levels were measured prior and after lactosucrose ingestion, and also on day 1, 3, 5, and 7 postoperatively. Fecal pH, organic acid contents and intestinal microflora were also analyzed before and after lactosucrose administration. The control group had blood and fecal samples taken in a similar manner to the lactosucrose group. Fecal pH had the tendency to decrease, and the concentration of fecal organic acids had the tendency to increase in the lactosucrose group when compared with the control group. The count of Gram-negative rods, which were reported to produce endotoxin, decreased in a ratio statistically significant (p<0.05) in comparison to the controls. Preoperative administration of lactosucrose improved the intestinal microflora, which was reflected by decreased levels of serum ammonia and endotoxin before surgery, decreased the usual postoperative elevation of serum endotoxin level, leading to a rapid return to the normal level.
