Kukuruzovic, R H

Brewster, D R

2002-12

To compare three low-lactose milk formulas differing in osmolality and degree of protein hydrolysis in the treatment of diarrhoea and malnutrition in subjects with high rates of lactose intolerance, osmotic diarrhoea and a tropical/environmental enteropathy. A randomized double-blind trial of 180 Aboriginal children under 3 years of age admitted with acute diarrhoea and/or malnutrition was carried out. The intervention milk formulas were: (i) De-Lact, a low-osmolality lactose-free formula; (ii) O-Lac, a lactose-free formula; and (iii) Alfaré, a partially hydrolysed formula. Outcome measures were diarrhoeal severity, weight gain, formula palatability and changes in intestinal permeability (L/R ratios). The duration of diarrhoea in days (mean; 95% confidence interval) was significantly longer on Alfaré (8.5; 7.0-10.0) compared to De-Lact (6.1; 5.0-7.2) and O-Lac (6.9; 5.6-8.1; P = 0.04). There were no differences in mean intake between formulas, but palatability of Alfaré was significantly worse (P < 0.01) than the other formulas. Over the trial 5 days, improvement in L/R ratios was significantly greater (P = 0.05) for De-Lact (18.6; 10.6-26.6) than for Alfaré (8.5; 2.1-14.9). Weight gain was not significantly different between the three formulas, except in a malnourished subgroup who had better weight gain on De-Lact (P = 0.05). In these Aboriginal children with diarrhoea and growth failure, a low osmolality milk was associated with better outcomes and a partially hydrolysed formula with less improvement in mucosal recovery, suggesting that cow's milk protein intolerance is not contributing to greater diarrhoeal severity or enteropathy in Aboriginal children.

Northern Territory Clinical School, Flinders University and Paediatric Department, Royal Darwin Hospital, Australia..

Journal of paediatrics and child health 2002-12; 38(6): 571-7

1034-4810

https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/12410869/?otool=iaurydwlib

https://hdl.handle.net/10137/6804

Analysis of Variance

Diarrhea, Infantile

Double-Blind Method

Female

Humans

Infant

Infant Nutrition Disorders

Intestinal Absorption

Male

Northern Territory

Oceanic Ancestry Group

Osmolar Concentration

Infant Food

Lactose Intolerance

Milk formulas in acute gastroenteritis and malnutrition: a randomized trial.

Clinical Trial

Comparative Study

Journal Article

Randomized Controlled Trial

Publication