Korean J Pediatr Gastroenterol Nutr.  2001 Apr;4(1):41-46.

The Effect of Diet Therapy on the Course of Acute Diarrheal Disease

• Yang HJ
• Jeong PJ
• Ban SH
• Min YS
• Park JO

Abstract

PURPOSE: We studied to know the effect of early feeding on the course and the recovery of acute diarrheal disease.
METHODS
The study was conducted on 76 patients who admitted to the Soonchunhyang university hospital for acute diarrhea. We divided 76 patients into 3 dietary groups (whole milk group (WMG): 35, diluted milk group (DMG): 29, breast milk group (BMG): 12). We compared three groups by numbers of diarrhea, numbers of vomiting, calory intake, weight increments, and duration of diarrhea.
RESULTS
1) The mean age was 16.45+/-18.20, 11.53+/-9.80, 5.38+/-5.01 months for WMG, DMG, and BMG, respectively. The mean weight was 9 kg and the mean duration of diarrhea was 2.29 days. 2) The numbers of diarrhea during admission was not significantly different in the three groups. 3) The calory intake during admission was significantly low in DMG. 4) The weight increments during admission was significantly low in DMG. 5) The duration of diarrhea during admission was not significantly different in the three gourps.
CONCLUSION
Early refeeding with whole milk or breast milk did not prolong or worsen the course or symptoms of diarrhea compared with gradual reintroduction with diluted milk. But there were advantages of improved nutrition and weight increments. Futher study is necessary to demonstrate the effect of diet according to the causative organisms.

Keyword

Diet therapy; Acute diarrhea

MeSH Terms

Diarrhea
Diet Therapy*
Diet*
Humans
Milk
Milk, Human
Vomiting