Folic acid and acute diarrhea in children

Abstract

Background Diarrhea has been a health problem in children under five year old. Although the mortality caused by acute diarrhea has fallen worldwide, the mortality has increased in developing countries, such as Indonesia. Objective To assess the effect of folic acid in reducing the severity of acute diarrhea in children. Methods This study was a single-blind, randomized control trial in children with diarrhea aged six months to five years at a local goverrnent clinic in the Secanggang District, Langkat Regency, North Sumatera Province from August 2009 until January 20 10. Subjects were recruited by con secutive sampling then randomized into two groups. Of the 112 children who participated, 56 children received oral fo lic acid and 56 children received placebo, 1 capsule per day for five days. The statistical analyses used were the independent T-test and Chi square test with 95% confidence intervals (95% CI) and P values < 0.05 considered to be statistically significant. Results There were significant differences between the fo lic acid and placebo groups with regards to stool consistency (P=0.02), diarrheal volume on the second day [ 14 7 .52 vs. 303 .21 mL, respectively, (P=0.001)], frequency of diarrhea on the third day [1.9 vs 2.8 episodes, respectively, (P= 0.001)], duration of initial treatment to recovery [91.3 vs. 117 .9 hours, respectively, (P = 0.001) and the total duration between initial symptoms and recovery (123.6 vs . 147.4 hours, respectively, (P = 0.001)]. Conclusion Oral folic acid is clinically beneficial for reducing the severity of acute diarrh ea in children under five year old.

Keywords

• folic acid, acute diarrhea, duration of diarrhea