[Trial of milk with low-lactose contents in acute diarrhea]

Fifty infants with acute diarrhea (less than or equal to 5 days of duration) were refed with either a low-lactose formula (experimental group, N = 25) or whole powdered cow's milk (control group, N = 25). During a two-month follow up etiology, clinical course, changes of anthropometric parameters and tolerance to the milk products were evaluated. The etiology of diarrhoea, the mean duration of the episodes (3.6 +/- 1.9 and 3.9 +/- 1.9 days in the experimental and control group, respectively) and the clinical course were comparable in both groups. Nutritional parameters remained unchanged during and after the episode. In two children (8.3%) of the control group stools continued to be liquid, fecal pH was 5 and reducing substances were positive. They had to be refed with the low-lactose product to induce remission of the symptoms. Both products were well tolerated. These findings suggest that availability of low-lactose formulae may be advantageous in the clinical management of infants with acute diarrhea and evidence of lactose intolerance.