ABSORPTION OF NUTRIENTS FROM AN ENERGY-DENSE DIET LIQUEFIED WITH AMYLASE FROM GERMINATED WHEAT IN INFANTS WITH ACUTE DIARRHEA

Background: Addition of a small amount of amylase rich flour (ARF) to a thick porridge instantly liquefy the porridge and increase the energ y intake even by sick children. The present study examined the absorpt ion of macronutrients and calorie from an energy dense diet liquefied with ARF in children aged 6-11 months with acute watery diarrhea. Meth ods: After adequately hydrated with oral rehydration fluid over a peri od of 24 hours, children were randojmly assigned to receive either an ARF treated liquefied porridge (test diet) or a porridge diluted with water (control diet). A 72-hour metabolic balance was performed to det ermine the absorption of carbohydrate, fat, protein, and calorie. Resu lts: Thirteen infants received the test diet, and 15 infants received the control diet. The intake of protein (g/kg/d), carbohydrate (g/kg.d ), fat (g/kg.d) and calorie (kJ/kg.d) were 1.97, 20.6, 4.3 and 548 res pectively in the test group and those in the control group were 1.12, 13.3, 2.8 and 356. The stool loss of protein, carbohydrate and fat wer e comparable in the two groups. The absorption coefficient (%) of carb ohydrate, fat and energy were 69.6, 61.3 and 65.4 in the test group an d were 73.2, 58.6 and 66.7 in the control group. The coefficient of ab sorption of protein was significantly higher in the test group (37.7% vs. 21.7%). The mean (95% CI) nitrogen balance (g/kg.d) in the test an d control groups were 0.064 (0.026, 0.102) and -0.029 (-0.055, 0.003) respectively. Conclusions: The results suggest that energy dense diet liquefied with ARF was well absorbed in children with acute diarrhea a nd there was a positive nitrogen balance that may have a positive impa ct in preventing weight loss during acute illness. (C) 1997 Lippincott -Raven Publishers.