Use of nonhuman milks in the dietary management of young children with acute diarrhea: a meta-analysis of clinical trials

Young children with severe diarrhea may be able to safely tolerate a diet of undiluted, nonhuman milk. In a meta-analysis of 14 clinical studies, researchers studied the treatment, outcome and diet of children up to 59 months old. In six of 13 studies which discussed treatment outcomes, treatment failure rates were much greater among children who received diets containing lactose. Overall, 22% percent of the children with lactose-containing diets were therapeutic failures versus 12% of those without lactose in their diets. The bowel movements of those with lactose-containing diets were not much more frequent than in the lactose-free diet group. Treatment failure rates for those receiving diluted versus undiluted milk were not statistically different. The number of bowel movements were greater in the undiluted milk group. The overall results from these trials indicate that a majority of children with acute diarrhea may be able to safely continue a diet of undiluted, nonhuman milk if severe dehydration and malnutrition are not complicating factors.
ABSSTRACT. Objective. To assess the effects of continued feeding of nonhuman milks or formulas to young children during acute diarrhea on their treatment failure rates, stool frequency and amount, diarrheal duration, and change in body weight. Methods. A total of 29 randomized clinical trials of 2215 patients were identified by computerized bibliographic search and review of published articles. Data were abstracted and analyzed using standard metal-anlytic procedures. Results. Among studies that compared lactose-containing milk of formula diets with lactose-free regimens, those children who received the lactose-containing diets during acute diahhrea were twice as likely to have a treatment failure as those who received a lactose-free diet (22% vs 12%, respectively; P