biostudies-literatureUnknown9Firrman JU.S. Department of Agriculture<h4>Introduction</h4>Following consumption of milk, lactose, a disaccharide of glucose and galactose, is hydrolyzed and absorbed in the upper gastrointestinal tract. However, hydrolysis and absorption are not always absolute, and some lactose will enter the colon where the gut microbiota is able to hydrolyze lactose and produce metabolic byproducts.<h4>Methods</h4>Here, the impact of lactose on the gut microbiota of healthy adults was examined, using a short-term, <i>in vitro</i> strategy where fecal samples harvested from 18 donors were cultured anaerobically with and without lactose. The data were compiled to identify donor-independent responses to lactose treatment.<h4>Results and discussion</h4>Metagenomic sequencing found that the addition of lactose decreased richness and evenness, wFrontiers in nutrition1040744https://www.ebi.ac.uk/biostudies/studies/S-EPMC9908759biostudies-literatureAn <i>in vitro</i> analysis of how lactose modifies the gut microbiota structure and function of adults in a donor-independent manner.PMC9908759Jones SMMahalak KLiu LTomasula PNarrowe AHu WMoustafa ABittinger KFirrman JfalseAn <i>in vitro</i> analysis of how lactose modifies the gut microbiota structure and function of adults in a donor-independent manner.<h4>Introduction</h4>Following consumption of milk, lactose, a disaccharide of glucose and galactose, is hydrolyzed and absorbed in the upper gastrointestinal tract. However, hydrolysis and absorption are not always absolute, and some lactose will enter the colon where the gut microbiota is able to hydrolyze lactose and produce metabolic byproducts.<h4>Methods</h4>Here, the impact of lactose on the gut microbiota of healthy adults was examined, using a short-term, <i>in vitro</i> strategy where fecal samples harvested from 18 donors were cultured anaerobically with and without lactose. The data were compiled to identify donor-independent responses to lactose treatment.<h4>Results and discussion</h4>Metagenomic sequencing found that the addition of lactose decreased richness and evenness, w2022-01-01T00:00:00Z20222026-04-08T13:16:06.039Z2024-11-09T01:33:47.264ZS-EPMC99087593677897110.3389/fnut.2022.1040744