Comparison of yogurt, soybean, casein, and amino acid–based diets in children with persistent diarrhea

Although previous studies have shown successful treatment of persistent diarrhea (PD) with the use of yogurt-based diets, some recent ones speculate the need of special formulas for the nutritional management of PD complicated cases. In the present study, we tested the hypothesis that the consumption of 3 lactose-free diets, with different degrees of complexity, is associated with lower stool output and shorter duration of diarrhea when compared with the use of a yogurt-based one on the nutritional management of PD. A total of 154 male infants, aged between 1 and 30 months, with PD and with or without dehydration, were randomly assigned to 1 of 4 treatment groups. Throughout the study, the patients were placed in a metabolic unit; their body weights and intakes of oral rehydration solution, water, and formula diets, in addition to outputs of stool, urine, and vomit, were measured and recorded at 24-hour intervals. Four different diets were used in this study: diet 1, yogurt-based formula; diet 2, soy-based formula; diet 3, hydrolyzed protein-based formula; and diet 4, amino acid–based formula. Throughout the study, only these formula diets were fed to the children. The data showed that children fed the yogurt-based diet (diet 1) or the amino acid–based diet (diet 4) had a significant reduction in stool output and in the duration of diarrhea. The use of an inexpensive and worldwide-available yogurt-based diet is recommended as the first choice for the nutritional management of mild to moderate PD. For the few complicated PD cases, when available, a more complex amino acid–based diet should be reserved for the nutritional management of these unresponsive and severe presentations. Soy-based or casein-based diets do not offer any specific advantage or benefits and do not seem to have a place in the management of PD.     

Phosphathaushalt und Phosphatbindertherapie

The total body phosphate of approximately 600–700 g is distributed to 80–85% in bones and 15% in soft tissues, blood, ECV and ICV in the form of various inorganic and organic phosphate bonds. As approximately 50% of the phosphate uptake from the intestines is passive and uptake is therefore uncontrolled, in normal healthy kidneys the renal excretion of phosphate is of great significance for phosphate homeostasis within the organism. Loss of this renal regulation in dialysis patients leads to the risk of phosphate accumulation in the body and plays a decisive role in extra-osseal calcification including cardiovascular complications and increased mortality. Because insufficient phosphate can be eliminated by dialysis, intestinal phosphate uptake must be reduced by phosphate binders. The application of various phosphate binders, such as calcium-containing phosphate binders or those containing aluminum, iron and lanthanum as well as calcium and metal-free binders including nicotinic acid and chitosan chewing gum will be discussed.