The nutritional management of acute diarrhea in young infants: effect of carbohydrate ingested.
To compare the efficacy of a low-lactose hydrolyzed milk formula, a lactose-free corn syrup-based milk formula, and a standard lactose-containing formula during refeeding after rehydration in infants with gastroenteritis, 135 patients older than 2 years were studied by randomized trial. Clearly demonstrated disadvantages in terms of early weight loss and longer duration of diarrhea were observed with the lactose-based formula compared with early weight gains on both the low-lactose formulae, and thus the lactose-containing formula was discontinued after 91 patients. The early weight loss with the lactose-containing formula was statistically significantly related to the degree of relative (rehydrated) underweight. The two low-lactose formulae were further compared in the remaining 44 patients. Early weight gain (48 h) was significantly greater with the lactose-hydrolyzed formula compared with the corn syrup-based formula, but no statistically significant differences were observed in duration of diarrhea, energy intake, treatment failures, or late weight gain. We conclude that the routine use of a low-lactose formula during refeeding after rehydration in infants with gastroenteritis may have some advantages in underweight infants and toddlers in whom it is important to prevent further weight loss.
Wall
C R
CR
Children's Nutrition Research Centre, University of Queensland, Australia.
Webster
J
J
Quirk
P
P
Robb
T A
TA
Cleghorn
G J
GJ
Davidson
G P
GP
Shepherd
R W
RW
D000208:Acute Disease; D003968:Diarrhea, Infantile / Q000178:diet therapy* / Q000382:microbiology; D004040:Dietary Carbohydrates / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007225:Infant Food; D007227:Infant Nutritional Physiological Phenomena; D007785:Lactose / Q000008:administration & dosage; D011446:Prospective Studies; D015430:Weight Gain; D015431:Weight Loss
D004040:Dietary Carbohydrates; D007785:Lactose