Comparison of a rice-based, mixed diet versus a lactose-free, soy-protein isolate formula for young children with acute diarrhea

Abstract

A randomized clinical trial was completed to compare the efficacy of a mixed diet composed of locally available foods versus a lactose-free, soy-based formula for the management of young Mexican children with acute diarrhea and dehydration. A total of 87 patients between 5 and 36 months of age received either a blended mixed diet containing rice, chicken, carrots, beans, and vegetable oil (group MD) or a soy formula (group SF) immediately after standard oral rehydration therapy. The initial clinical characteristics of the patients in each group were similar, as were their stool outputs during the first 6-hour period of rehydration before the diets were offered. There were six treatment failures, all of which were in group SF (p <0.01). The stool outputs of children in group MD and in group SF were 82 ± 55 versus 112 ± 88 gm/kg per day, respectively, on day 1 (p = 0.037), and 48 ± 33 versus 66 ± 55 gm/kg per day on day 2 (p = 0.109). The duration of diarrhea among those in group MD was significantly reduced compared with those in group SF (29 vs 67 hours; p <0.001). We conclude that the mixed diet resulted in improved clinical outcomes compared with the lactose- free, soy protein isolate formula. (J PEDIATR 1994;125:699-706)