Paediatrica Indonesiana (Sep 2016)

Benefits of gum arabic supplementation to oral rehydration solution in managing acute diarrhea

  • Hasri Salwan,
  • Isnada Isnada,
  • Achirul Bakri,
  • Rusdi Ismail,
  • Erial Bahar

DOI
https://doi.org/10.14238/pi47.6.2007.265-9
Journal volume & issue
Vol. 47, no. 6
pp. 265 – 9

Abstract

Read online

Background Oral rehydration solution (ORS) has been proven successfully to overcome dehydration in diarrhea. The improvement of the effectiveness of ORS is still needed to overcome some failures. Gum Arabic (GA), an indigestable starch, can enhance ORS absorption in mice with diarrhea. It is worthy to explore its benefits in human. Since GA is non toxic to human being, it is regarded ethical to conduct effectiveness study directly in clinical setting. Objective To evaluate the effectiveness of GA supplementation to ORS in managing inpatients diarrheal cases . Methods A double blind clinical trial was conducted during March to September 2004 in the Department of Child Health of M. Hoesin Hospital, Palembang. The subjects were randomly enrolled to GA- ORS (GA) group or ORS (SO) group. Indirect measurements were conducted on ORS absorptive enhancement by evaluating the duration of diarrhea after hospitalization, frequency of defecation during hospitalization, ORS consumption during hospitalization, and time laps of stool consistency conversion. The effectiveness analysis was controlled for confounders. Results Supplementation of 0.5 gram GA to 200 ml ORS could decrease the duration of diarrhoea 15.65 hours (P=0.000) during hospitalisation, frequency of defecation during hospitalization 1.171 times/days (P=0.002), ORS consumption 38.39 ml/kg BW (P=0.029), time of stool consistency to become semisolid 15.84 hours (P=0.000), and become solid 14.45 hours (P=0.002). Vomiting during hospitalization and aged group of 6-11 months were significant confounder. However, after controlling the outcome with these confounding factors, the benefits of GA supplementation were still significant. Conclusions GA supplementation to ORS significantly shorten the duration of diarrhea, decreases the frequency of defecation, consumption of ORS, time of stool consistency to become semisolid and solid in inpatients diarrheal cases.

Keywords