Clinical studies in persistent diarrhea: dietary management with green banana or pectin in Bangladeshi children

Gastroenterology. 2001 Sep;121(3):554-60. doi: 10.1053/gast.2001.27178.

Abstract

Background & aims: Because of the beneficial intestinal effects of dietary fibers, we have evaluated the therapeutic effects of green banana or pectin in children with persistent diarrhea.

Methods: In a double-blind trial, 62 boys, age 5-12 months, were randomly given a rice-based diet containing either 250 g/L of cooked green banana (n = 22) or 4 g/kg pectin (n = 19) or the rice-diet alone (control, n = 21), providing 54 kcal/dL daily for 7 days. Stool weight and consistency, frequency of vomiting and purging, and duration of illness were measured.

Results: Most children (60%) had no pathogens isolated from stools, 17% had rotavirus, 5% Vibrio cholerae, 4% Salmonella group B, and 11% had enterotoxigenic Escherichia coli infections. By day 3 posttreatment, significantly (P < 0.001) more children recovered from diarrhea receiving pectin or banana than controls (59%, 55%, and 15%, respectively). By day 4, these proportions correspondingly increased to 82%, 78%, and 23%, respectively, the study diet groups being significantly (P < 0.001) different than controls. Green banana and pectin significantly (P < 0.05) reduced amounts of stool, oral rehydration solution, intravenous fluid, and numbers of vomiting, and diarrheal duration.

Conclusions: Green banana and pectin are useful in the dietary management of persistent diarrhea in hospitalized children and may also be useful to treat children at home.

Publication types

  • Clinical Trial
  • Randomized Controlled Trial
  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, Non-P.H.S.

MeSH terms

  • Antidiarrheals / administration & dosage*
  • Bangladesh
  • Diarrhea, Infantile / diet therapy*
  • Diarrhea, Infantile / drug therapy*
  • Diarrhea, Infantile / mortality
  • Disease-Free Survival
  • Double-Blind Method
  • Feces
  • Fluid Therapy
  • Humans
  • Infant
  • Infusions, Intravenous
  • Male
  • Oryza
  • Pectins / administration & dosage*
  • Treatment Outcome
  • Vomiting / diet therapy
  • Vomiting / drug therapy
  • Vomiting / mortality
  • Zingiberales*

Substances

  • Antidiarrheals
  • Pectins