title: Zinc-fortified oral rehydration solution improved intestinal permeability and small intestinal mucosal recovery.
abstract: A randomized double-blind placebo-controlled study was conducted in children admitted to hospital with gastroenteritis (≥3 loose stools per day). All were treated for 5 days following admission with either zinc (Zn, 3 mg) or without Zn-fortified rice-based oral rehydration solution (ORS). (13)C-sucrose breath test (SBT) and intestinal permeability (lactulose/rhamnose or L/R ratio) were performed concurrently prior to commencement of ORS with or without Zn and at day 5 post-admission. There was a significant improvement in the SBT results in both the Zn-fortified group, median (5th-95th percentile) 2.1% (0.4% to 8.3%) versus 4.4% (0.4% to 10.4%), P < .05, and control group, 1.4% (0.1% to 5.4%) versus 4.3% (0.4% to 11.4%), P < .05, between the day of admission and day 5 post-admission. In the Zn-fortified group, there was also a significant improvement in L/R ratio between the day of admission and day 5 post-admission, 53.0 (19.5-90.6) versus 17.7 (13.4-83.2), P < .05. Low levels of Zn improved intestinal permeability but did not enhance short-term recovery following diarrheal illness.
authors.affiliation: Women's and Children's Health Network, North Adelaide, South Australia, Australia University of Adelaide, Adelaide, South Australia, Australia.
authors.forename: Cuong D
authors.initials: CD
authors.lastname: Tran
authors.affiliation: Women's and Children's Health Network, North Adelaide, South Australia, Australia.
authors.forename: Joanna
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Hawkes
authors.affiliation: University of Adelaide, Adelaide, South Australia, Australia.
authors.forename: Robin D
authors.initials: RD
authors.lastname: Graham
authors.affiliation: University of Adelaide, Adelaide, South Australia, Australia.
authors.forename: Julie L
authors.initials: JL
authors.lastname: Kitchen
authors.affiliation: Royal Adelaide Hospital, Adelaide, South Australia, Australia.
authors.forename: Erin L
authors.initials: EL
authors.lastname: Symonds
authors.affiliation: Women's and Children's Health Network, North Adelaide, South Australia, Australia.
authors.forename: Geoffrey P
authors.initials: GP
authors.lastname: Davidson
authors.affiliation: Women's and Children's Health Network, North Adelaide, South Australia, Australia University of South Australia, Adelaide, South Australia, Australia ross.butler@unisa.edu.au.
authors.forename: Ross N
authors.initials: RN
authors.lastname: Butler
mesh_terms: D001944:Breath Tests; D002463:Cell Membrane Permeability / Q000502:physiology; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D005260:Female; D005759:Gastroenteritis / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000503:physiopathology* / Q000628:therapy*; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007408:Intestinal Absorption / Q000502:physiology; D007413:Intestinal Mucosa / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism / Q000503:physiopathology*; D007421:Intestine, Small / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism / Q000503:physiopathology; D007422:Intestines / Q000187:drug effects / Q000503:physiopathology*; D008297:Male; D015532:Rehydration Solutions / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D015032:Zinc / Q000627:therapeutic use*
chemical_list: D015532:Rehydration Solutions; D015032:Zinc
keywords: diarrheal disease; intestinal permeability; sucrose breath test; zinc-fortified oral rehydration solution