Lactulose is a synthetic sugar used in the treatment of liver disease and constipation. Lactulose absorbs ammonia (produced in liver disease) from the bloodstream through the intestinal wall. In the treatment of chronic constipation it draws water into the bowel, softening the stool. It consists of monosaccharides fructose and galactose.
References
- Medline Plus
- Deglin, J. H., & Vallerand A. H. (2003). Lactulose. In Davis's drug guide for nurses (9th ed.) (pp. 589-590). Philadelphia:F. A. Davis.