The effect of the FODMAP and rebamipid diet on the activity of disaccharidases in patients with enteropathy with impaired membrane digestion

Aim. To compare the effect of a diet low in fermentable oligo-, di-, monosaccharides and polyols (fermentable oligosaccharides, disaccharides, monosaccharides and polyols – FODMAP) and rebamipide on carbohydrate tolerance and disaccharidases activity in patients with maldigestive enteropathy (ENMP).

Materials and methods. The study included 61 patients with ENMP with reduced small intestine carbohydrases. Their glucoamylase activity was 100 ng glucose/mg tissue × min (quartile 53, 72), maltase – 504 (quartile 258, 708), sucrase – 43 (quartile 25, 58), lactase – 8 (quartile 4, 20). Group 1 included 19 people on a low FODMAP diet. The 2nd group included 42 patients who were on a normal diet and received rebamipide 300 mg/day. Patients were monitored weekly for 8 weeks.

Results. In 16 patients of the 1st group, abdominal pain and stool disorders decreased, in 15 patients, swelling and rumbling in the abdomen stopped. Glucoamylase activity increased to 196 (quartile 133, 446, р<0.024) ng glucose/mg tissue × min, maltase activity increased to 889 (quartile 554, 1555, p<0.145), sucrase activity increased to 67 (quartile 43, 175, p<0.039), lactase activity increased to 13 (quartile 9, 21, p<0.02). After the diet was discontinued, intestinal symptoms in patients of group 1 resumed. In 27 patients of the 2nd group after 4 weeks dyspeptic manifestations decreased, in 34 patients the tolerability of products containing FODMAP improved. Continuation of treatment up to 8 weeks contributed to a further improvement in well-being. Glucoamylase activity increased after 4 and 8 weeks to 189 (quartile 107, 357, p<0.013) and 203 (quartile 160, 536, p<0.005), respectively; maltase – up to 812 (quartile 487, 915, p<0.005) and 966 (quartile 621, 2195, р<0.0012); sucrases – up to 60 (quartile 34, 105, p<0.013) and 75 (quartile 52, 245, р=0.003); lactase – up to 12 (quartile 8, 12, p<0.132) and 15 ng glucose/mg tissue × min (quartile 10, 20, р<0.092).

Conclusion. The clinical symptoms of fermentable carbohydrate intolerance and increased membrane enzyme activity are reduced by a low FODMAP diet in patients with ENMT, but clinical symptoms of food intolerance reappear when switching to a normal diet. Treatment with rebamipide improves food tolerance and consistently increases the activity of TSOTS enzymes after 4 and 8 weeks.