THE NUTRITIONAL MANAGEMENT OF ACUTE DIARRHEA IN YOUNG INFANTS - EFFECT OF CARBOHYDRATE INGESTED

To compare the efficacy of a low-lactose hydrolyzed milk formula, a la ctose-free corn syrup-based milk formula, and a standard lactose-conta ining formula during refeeding after rehydration in infants with gastr oenteritis, 135 patients older than 2 years were studied by randomized trial. Clearly demonstrated disadvantages in terms of early weight lo ss and longer duration of diarrhea were observed with the lactose-base d formula compared with early weight gains on both the low-lactose for mulae, and thus the lactose-containing formula was discontinued after 91 patients. The early weight loss with the lactose-containing formula was statistically significantly related to the degree of relative (re hydrated) underweight. The two low-lactose formulae were further compa red in the remaining 44 patients. Early weight gain (48 h) was signifi cantly greater with the lactose-hydrolyzed formula compared with the c orn syrup-based formula, but no statistically significant differences were observed in duration of diarrhea, energy intake, treatment failur es, or late weight gain. We conclude that the routine use of a low-lac tose formula during refeeding after rehydration in infants with gastro enteritis may have some advantages in underweight infants and toddlers in whom it is important to prevent further weight loss.