Ganeden Biotech said that the new invention promises a better and easier solution to prevent lactose intolerance symptoms over the traditional practice of taking lactase enzyme alone before a meal, which lactose intolerance sufferers often find impractical.
The Cleveland-based biotechnology company has been selling a product called Digestive Advantage Lactose Intolerance at retail stores. It contains a combination of a probiotic strain of Bacillus coagulans and lactase enzyme covered by patent no 7,700,093, which was just issued by the US Patent and Trademark Office.
Additionally, studies conducted by the Dutch research firm TNO demonstrated that the combination was able to increase lactose digestion throughout the digestive tract.
Ganeden Biotech said that taking lactase, the enzyme that breaks down lactose and what people with lactose intolerance lack, is the traditional solution for people with lactose intolerance who want to consume dairy and is a seemingly simple solution. However, people with lactose intolerance often find this solution burdensome, as the lactase enzyme must be taken every time dairy is consumed because it can only work when lactose is in the upper digestive tract.
Rachel Garber, a Cleveland pediatrician who treats lactose intolerant children and teens at her practice, said: “Keeping enough lactase pills handy is hard enough, but since lactose intolerance sufferers often don’t know that some of the foods they’re eating contain dairy, they may not even think about taking their lactase pills.
“A better solution would be one that could be taken in the morning and protect you throughout the day against any dairy that might be consumed, knowingly or not.”
Marshall Fong, head of marketing team at Ganeden Biotech, said: “The lactase enzyme market is rather stagnant, with the brands declining in sales. We believe this is because it’s not the ideal solution to lactose intolerance. It’s not always easy to take a lactase pill before eating dairy, especially if you don’t know that the food you’re about to eat contains dairy.
“Our Digestive Advantage Lactose Intolerance combines lactase enzyme plus probiotics to increase lactose digestion throughout the digestive tract.”