Randomised trial of different rates of feeding in acute diarrhoea

Objective-To compare the effect of different feeding frequencies on the spe ed of recovery from diarrhoea. Methods-A randomised, non-blinded trial provided 0.452 MJ/kg/day as either 6 or 12 feeds of cows' milk each day to 262 hospitalised male infants aged 3-12 months with acute diarrhoea. Stool frequency, stool weight, body weigh t, and diarrhoea complications were monitored until recovery or for 14 days . Results-A proportional hazards regression model controlling for age, diarrh oea aetiology, and severity of dehydration on admission revealed that the f requently fed group had a significantly shorter duration of diarrhoea (haza rds ratio, 1.29; 95% confidence interval, 1.002 to 1.653). Frequently fed i nfants had a significantly greater weight gain and significantly lower faec al frequency and faecal weight. Conclusions-Breast feeding remains the preferred method of feeding infants with acute diarrhoea, but feeding cows' milk to adequately nourished infant s with acute diarrhoea is safe and is more rapidly effective if provided in frequent feeds with low energy loads.