title: Gelatin Tannate for Acute Childhood Gastroenteritis: A Randomized, Single-Blind Controlled Trial.
abstract: Oral rehydration therapy is the recommended treatment for acute childhood gastroenteritis. The aim of this study was to assess the efficacy and safety of gelatin tannate plus oral rehydration compared with oral rehydration alone.
  
  
  
  We conducted a multicenter, parallel, randomized, controlled, single-blind, prospective, open-label trial. A central randomization center used computer generated tables to allocate treatments. The study was performed in two medical centers in Italy. Sixty patients 3-72 months of age with acute gastroenteritis were recruited (median age 18 months; age range 3-66 months): 29 received an oral rehydration solution (ORS) and 31 an ORS plus gelatin tannate (ORS + G). The primary outcome was the number of bowel movements 48 and 72 h after initiating treatment. Secondary outcomes were: duration of diarrhea, stool characteristics and adverse events.
  
  
  
  No patient was lost at follow-up. No significant difference in the number of bowel movements after 48 h was reported (2.7 ± 1.3 ORS + G; 3.2 ± 0.8 ORS; p = 0.06), although the ORS + G group showed a significant improvement in stool consistency (3.7 ± 1.0 vs. 4.3 ± 0.8; p = 0.005). At 72 h, a significant reduction in bowel movements was reported in the ORS + G group compared with the ORS group (1.0 ± 1.4 vs. 2.0 ± 1.7; p = 0.01). Mean duration of diarrhea was significantly lower in the ORS + G group than in the ORS only group (76.8 ± 19.2 vs. 108 ± 24.0 h; p < 0.0001). No adverse events were reported.
  
  
  
  Gelatin tannate added to oral rehydration in children with acute diarrhea was associated with a significant decrease in bowel movements at 72 h, with an early improvement in the stool consistency and shorter disease duration.
  
  
  
  NCT02644200-Gelatin Tannate as Treatment for Acute Childhood Gastroenteritis ( https://www.clinicaltrials.gov ).
authors.affiliation: Pediatric Gastroenterology and Liver Unit, Sapienza University of Rome, Viale Regina Elena 324, 00161, Rome, Italy. Maurizio.mennini@gmail.com.|Department of Pediatrics, Sapienza University of Rome, Viale Regina Elena 324, 00161, Rome, Italy. Maurizio.mennini@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Maurizio
authors.identifier: http://orcid.org/0000-0003-4000-6004
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Mennini
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatrics, Second University of Naples, Viale Beneduce 10, 81100, Caserta, Italy.
authors.forename: Carlo
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Tolone
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatrics, Sapienza University of Rome, Viale Regina Elena 324, 00161, Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: Antonella
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Frassanito
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatrics, Sapienza University of Rome, Viale Regina Elena 324, 00161, Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: Fabio
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Midulla
authors.affiliation: Pediatric Gastroenterology and Liver Unit, Sapienza University of Rome, Viale Regina Elena 324, 00161, Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: Salvatore
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Cucchiara
authors.affiliation: Pediatric Gastroenterology and Liver Unit, Sapienza University of Rome, Viale Regina Elena 324, 00161, Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: Marina
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Aloi
mesh_terms: D000208:Acute Disease; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003967:Diarrhea / Q000188:drug therapy*; D005260:Female; D005440:Fluid Therapy / Q000379:methods*; D005759:Gastroenteritis / Q000188:drug therapy*; D005780:Gelatin / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D008297:Male; D011446:Prospective Studies; D016037:Single-Blind Method; D013634:Tannins / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D013634:Tannins; C586501:tannate gelatin; D005780:Gelatin