Clinical outcomes of two lactose-free formulas in the management of acute childhood diarrhea

Table 1 Composition of research formula

Nutrients (g/100 kcal)	MCT-containing, lactose-free formula (MLF)	Standard lactose-free formula (SLF)
Protein	3.0	2.1
Source	Casein	Milk protein
Fat	5.0	5.4
Source	MCT oil, soy oil	Palm olein, soy oil, coconut oil, high oleic safflower oil, DHA, ARA
Carbohydrate	10.7	10.6
Source	Dextrin, sucrose	Solid corn syrup
Caloric density (calories per ounce)	20	20

MLF: Medium-chain triglyceride-containing lactose-free formula; SLF: Standard lactose-free formula; MCT: Medium-chain triglyceride; DHA: Docosahexaenoic acid; ARA: Arachidonic acid.

Table 2 Baseline characteristics⁴

Variable	Group MLF (n = 22)	Group SLF (n = 22)	P value
1Gender female	10.0 (45.5)	10.0 (45.5)	1.000
Age (months)	14.5 (10.5)	14.5 (9.8)	0.605
16-12 months	10.0 (45.5)	9.0 (40.9)	0.761
1≥ 13 months	12.0 (54.5)	13.0 (59.1)
Body weight on admission (g)	9950.0 (2991.3)	9900.0 (2340.0)	0.366
2Body length on admission (cm)	76.8 ± 7.7	78.3 ± 6.3	0.208
2Head circumference (cm)	45.0 ± 3.3	45.0 ± 2.5	0.328
Diarrhea parameters before enrollment
Duration of diarrhea (days)	1.0 (1.0)	2.0 (1.0)	0.139
Stool frequency in 24 hours (times)	9.0 (5.5)	7.5 (4.8)	0.493
Stool consistency in 24 hours (mBSFS-C score)	5.0 (0.0)	5.0 (0.0)	0.639
3Infection by stool assessment
1Viral infection (Rotavirus, adenovirus, norovirus)	8.0 (38.0)	7.0 (33.3)	0.506
1Bacteria (Salmonella spp., Aeromonas spp.)	4.0 (19.1)	3.0 (14.3)
1Unidentified infection	9.0 (42.9)	11.0 (52.4)

¹The data are analyzed by the χ² test and presented as a proportion.

²The data are analyzed by an independent t-test and presented as mean ± SD.

³Number of subjects in medium-chain triglyceride-containing lactose-free formula group = 21, standard lactose-free formula group = 21, missing data = 2.

⁴The data are analyzed by the Mann-Whitney test and presented as median (interquartile) unless otherwise specified.

mBSFS-C: Modified Bristol Stool Form Scale for Children; MLF: Medium-chain triglyceride-containing lactose-free formula; SLF: Standard lactose-free formula.

Table 3 Diarrhea improvement and other outcomes¹

	Group MLF (n = 22)	Group SLF (n = 22)	P value
Diarrhea improvement outcomes
Change of stool frequency on discharge day compared to baseline (times/day)	-7.5 (5.8)	-4.0 (3.8)	0.083
Duration of diarrhea (hours)	24.0 (21.5)	45.0. (49.0)	0.293
Length of hospitalization (days)	2.0 (1.0)	2.0 (1.0)	0.825
Other outcomes
Amount of consumed formula until recovery (mL)	900.0 (1291.6)	1102.5 (696.3)	0.391
Cost of consumed formula until recovery (THB)	227.9 (0.0)	373.6 (0.0)	< 0.001

¹The data are analyzed by the Mann-Whitney U test and presented as median (interquartile).

MLF: Medium-chain triglyceride-containing lactose-free formula; SLF: Standard lactose-free formula; THB: Thai Baht.