laevolac contains the active ingredient lactulose, a “double sugar” consisting of galactose and fructose. The linkage between the two sugar units cannot be split in the human small intestine.

Hence, lactulose passes to the colon unchanged. There laevolac is used as an energy source by health-promoting bacteria such as lactic acid bacilli and bifidobacteria, stimulating their growth. This increases the bulk of the stool, and when the colon is full, it becomes more mobile. Also, since these beneficial bacteria degrade lactulose mainly to lactic acid, the content of the intestine becomes acidified. This increases water retention in the colon, which makes the faeces softer and easier to evacuate.

What is laevolac ?