13C-LABELED RICE CEREAL ABSORBED BY INFANTS WITH ACUTE GASTROENTERITIS (AGE)

Abstract

Diluted cow milk (CM) is used in tropical countries for refeeding infants with AGE. Staple foods are used to provide calories during recovery from malnutrition. To determine if rice cereal could be used as a caloric supplement during AGE, we studied 8 male, CM-fed infants, age (x±SD) 95±23 d, range 69-131 d, admitted to hospital in Guatemala. After rehydration, rice cereal was added to CM diluted by 50% with water to restore caloric density to 0.65 kcal/ml. A 48-h stool collection and balance study were begun with the first feeding to which 13C-labeled rice cereal (5g) was added. Fecal 13C abundance, osmolality, N, and energy were determined. Infants were restudied 17d later. Differences between study periods were analyzed by paired t test. The absorption of rice cereal was not significantly impaired during AGE, compared with that during the recovery period, as indicated by the %13C malabsorbed (x±SD 11±8% vs 4±3%, p=0.08), the coefficient of energy absorption (84±9% vs 92±4%, P=0.099), total fecal output (dry weight), N, and fecal energy (152±86 vs 104±39 kcal). Appreciable fecal energy loss occurred in both study periods despite good absorption of cereal, suggesting incomplete recovery from AGE or small bowel bacterial overgrowth. Our data show good absorption of rice cereal used as an energy supplement during AGE.