Antidiarrheal effects of L-histidine-supplemented rice-based oral rehydration solution in the treatment of male adults with severe cholera in Bangladesh: a double-blind, randomized trial.
BACKGROUND
Because of the antisecretory potential of L-histidine in the intestinal tract, its antidiarrheal effects were determined in cholera.


METHODS
In a double-blind trial of 126 adult male patients with cholera, L-histidine (2.5 g/L) was mixed with a rice-based oral rehydration solution (ORS) and administered to 62 patients; 64 patients received the same ORS without L-histidine. All patients received ciprofloxacin at a dosage of 500 mg every 12 h for 72 h. Fluid output (of stool, urine, and vomit) and intake (of ORS, water, and intravenous fluid) were determined every 8 h for 72 h.


RESULTS
Administration of ORS with L-histidine significantly (P<.05) reduced the frequency of stool output during 32-64 h after initiation of ORS treatment, compared with that in patients given ORS without L-histidine ([all data are means+/-SD] 32-48 h, 11.5+/-6.9 mL/kg vs. 18.8+/-16.0 mL/kg; 40-48 h, 6.7+/-4.4 mL/kg vs. 11.5+/-9.7 mL/kg; and 56-64 h, 6.3+/-5.8 mL/kg vs. 7.8+/-4.1 mL/kg). An overall reduction of 22% in the volume of stool was observed in patients given ORS without L-histidine. The amount of required unscheduled intravenous fluid was lower in patients given ORS with L-histidine, compared with that in patients given ORS without L-histidine (0-24 h, 82.5+/-44.4 mL/kg vs. 158.6+/-72.2 mL/kg [P<.01]; and 24-48 h, 41.6+/-40.4 mL/kg vs. 52.5+/-22.1 mL/kg [P>.05]). Administration of ORS with L-histidine also significantly reduced (P<.05) the intake of ORS and the duration of illness. No adverse effects were observed in these patients.


CONCLUSIONS
L-histidine reduces the weight of stool and the frequency of stool output in cholera and could be a useful and safe adjunct treatment that will increase the success rate of ORS and antibiotic therapy in cholera.
Rabbani
Golam H
GH
Clinical Sciences Division, Centre for Health and Population Research, International Centre for Diarrhoeal Disease Research, Bangladesh, Dhaka, Bangladesh. rabbani@icddrb.org
Sack
David A
DA
Ahmed
Shamsir
S
Peterson
Johnny W
JW
Saha
Shyamal K
SK
Marni
Farzana
F
Thomas
Peter
P
D000328:Adult; D000930:Antidiarrheals / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001459:Bangladesh; D001794:Blood Pressure; D002771:Cholera / Q000628:therapy*; D003967:Diarrhea / Q000517:prevention & control; D019587:Dietary Supplements; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D005243:Feces / Q000382:microbiology; D005440:Fluid Therapy / Q000379:methods*; D006339:Heart Rate; D006639:Histidine / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D014734:Vibrio cholerae / Q000302:isolation & purification
D000930:Antidiarrheals; D006639:Histidine