EFFECT OF DIETARY NUCLEOTIDE SUPPLEMENTATION ON DIARRHEAL DISEASE IN INFANTS

The effects of a nucleotide-supplemented formula on diarrhoeal disease was studied in 141 infants (group 1) who belonged to the low socioeco nomic stratum; 148 controls (group 2) received the same formula but un supplemented. Group 1 experienced less episodes of diarrhoea (109 vers us 140), including less first episodes (74 versus 102; chi-square = 8. 19, p < 0.004; odds ratio 2.01) and for a lesser number of days (807 v ersus 996 days); 45.0% and 31.1% of infants in groups 1 and 2, respect ively, never developed episodes of diarrhoea. There were no difference s in the clinical characteristics of the episodes or in the enteropath ogens isolated from symptomatic or asymptomatic infants. The mechanism s through which nucleotides decrease the incidence of diarrhoeal disea se in infants remain unclear.