Efficacy of partially hydrolyzed guar gum-added oral rehydration solution in the treatment of severe cholera in adults.
BACKGROUND
Partially hydrolyzed guar gum (PHGG) is a water-soluble fiber if added to oral rehydration solution (ORS) and undergoes fermentation in the colon liberating short chain fatty acids (SCFAs). SCFAs potentiate the effect of ORS, reducing the severity of diarrhea.


OBJECTIVE
To examine the effect of PHGG-added ORS in reducing the stool output and duration of diarrhea in adult cholera.


METHODS
195 male patients were studied in a randomized controlled trial: (a) 65 received ORS + 25 g PHGG; (b) 65 received ORS + 50 g PHGG, and (c) 65 received ORS alone (control). Major outcomes were stool weight and duration of diarrhea.


RESULTS
No significant differences were found in mean +/- SD stool weight (g/kg b.w.) during the first and second 24 h. In the subgroup analysis (excluding very high purging patients, stool weight in the first 24 h was >10 kg), the stool weight (g/kg b.w.) was significantly reduced in the first 24 h in both groups receiving PHGG (PHGG 25 g, 136 +/- 68 vs. PHGG 50 g, 144 +/- 49 vs. control, 176 +/- 43, p = 0.01).


CONCLUSIONS
PHGG-added ORS might have a beneficial effect in moderately purging adult cholera. However, further studies are warranted to confirm the preliminary findings.
Alam
N H
NH
International Centre for Diarrhoeal Disease Research Bangladesh (ICDDRB), Mohakhali, Dhaka, Bangladesh. horiuchi.akira@sihp.jp
Ashraf
H
H
Sarker
S A
SA
Olesen
M
M
Troup
J
J
Salam
M A
MA
Gyr
N
N
Meier
R
R