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Tannin-rich carob pod for the treatment of acute-onset diarrhea
H Loeb1, Y Vandenplas, P Würsch
1Department of Pediatrics, Academic Children's Hospital, Free University of Brussels, Belgium.
Insights
Carob pod powder significantly reduced diarrhea duration in infants. This natural treatment, rich in tannins and polyphenols, offers a safe and effective option for acute infectious diarrhea.
Area of Science:
- Pediatrics
- Gastroenterology
- Natural Product Chemistry
Background:
- Acute diarrhea is a common pediatric illness, often caused by viral or bacterial pathogens.
- Oral rehydration fluid is the standard treatment, but adjunct therapies may improve outcomes.
- Carob, a plant-rich in tannins and polyphenols, has demonstrated antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory properties.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the efficacy of a tannin-rich carob pod powder as an adjunct therapy for acute infectious diarrhea in hospitalized infants.
- To assess the impact of carob powder on diarrhea duration and associated symptoms.
Main Methods:
- A randomized controlled trial was conducted with 41 infants aged 3-21 months with acute diarrhea.
- Participants received standard oral rehydration fluid and either carob pod powder (1.5 g/kg/day) or a placebo for up to 6 days.
- Diarrhea duration, defecation normalization, body temperature, weight, and vomiting cessation were primary outcome measures.
Main Results:
- Infants receiving carob powder experienced a significantly shorter diarrhea duration (2.0 days) compared to the placebo group (3.75 days) (p < 0.001).
- Normalized defecation, body temperature, weight, and cessation of vomiting were achieved more rapidly in the carob powder group.
- The carob powder was well accepted and tolerated by the infant participants.
Conclusions:
- Tannin-rich carob pod powder is an effective adjunct therapy for reducing the duration and improving symptom resolution in infants with acute infectious diarrhea.
- Carob powder represents a safe, well-tolerated, and potentially beneficial natural treatment option for pediatric gastroenteritis.
Abstract:
Infants aged 3-21 months with acute diarrhea of bacterial and viral origin were treated as inpatients with oral rehydration fluid and randomly received for up to 6 days either a tannin-rich carob pod powder (40% tannins or 21.2% polyphenols and 26.4% dietary fiber), 1.5 g/kg/day (n = 21) to a maximum of 15 g, or an equivalent placebo (n = 20). The duration of the diarrhea from admission was 2.0 +/- 0.27 days in the test group and 3.75 +/- 0.30 days in the placebo group (p less than 0.001). Normalized defecation, body temperature, and weight and cessation of vomiting were reached more quickly by the patients who received the test substance. The test substance was well accepted and tolerated.