ABSORPTION OF MACRONUTRIENTS AND NITROGEN-BALANCE IN CHILDREN WITH DYSENTERY FED AN AMYLASE-TREATED ENERGY-DENSE PORRIDGE

The aim of this study was to determine the absorption of macronutrient s and energy from an energy-dense diet liquefied with amylase from ger minated wheat (ARF) in children suffering from acute dysentery. Thirty male children aged 6-35 months presenting with acute dysentery were r andomly assigned to receive either an ARF-treated porridge or a standa rd porridge liquefied with water to make its consistency similar to th e ARF porridge. After 24-h stabilization a 72-h metabolic balance was performed. Sixteen children received an ARF-treated porridge and 14 re ceived a standard porridge liquefied with water. The mean +/- SD coeff icients of absorption (%) of carbohydrate, fat, protein and energy (AR F porridge vs regular porridge) were 81.4 +/- 11 vs 86.9 +/- 7, 86.1 /- 10 vs 82.8 +/- 15, 57.3 +/- 12 vs 48.4 +/- 24 and 81.4 +/- 9 vs 83. 1 +/- 8, respectively. The stool loss of carbohydrate, protein, fat an d energy was similar in the two groups. The net absorption of energy w as substantially greater in the ARF-fed than regular porridge-fed chil dren (by 28%, p = 0.01). The nitrogen balance was 6.9 +/- 3.4 mg kg(-1 ) d(-1) in the ARF porridge group and 1.1 +/- 6.7 mg kg(-1) d(-1) in t he regular porridge group (p = 0.01). These results show that, despite being hyperosmolar, an amylase-treated liquefied energy-dense porridg e is absorbed as well as a regular porridge by malnourished children w ith severe dysentery. Consequently, its use substantially increased th e absorption of a net amount of macronutrients and resulted in a bette r nitrogen balance. These results further support this innovative appr oach of feeding sick children in developing countries.