Efficacy of mung bean (lentil) and pop rice based rehydration solutions in comparison with the standard glucose electrolyte solution

Abstract

Children with acute diarrhea and moderate dehydration between 3 months and 5 years of age were randomly assigned to receive treatment with standard WHO oral rehydration solution (ORS) (n = 33) and two other solutions in which the 20 g/L glucose was substituted by 50 g/L of pop rice (n = 31) and 60 g/L of mung bean (lentil) powder (n = 29). Satisfactory oral rehydration, as assessed clinically and by changes in PCV and total serum solids (TSS), was achieved in 90.9% with WHO ORS, 96.8% with pop rice, and 96.6% in the mung bean ORS treated group (p > 0.05). The purging rates (ml/kg/h) until recovery were 2.49 ± 1.5 (pop rice); 2.91 ± 2.0 (WHO), and 3.41 ± 1.7 in the mung bean group (p > 0.05). The percentage of patients recovering from diarrhea within the 72 h study period was 58.0 (pop rice), 48.4 (WHO), and 44.8 for mung bean group (p > 0.05). Though differences in stool volumes and duration in the three groups were not statistically different, there was a trend toward improvement in efficacy with the pop rice ORS in several parameters: greater weight gain, higher percentage decline in TSS, higher urine output despite lower ORS intake, and lower purging rates. The intake of semisolids in the 24-72 h study period was also higher in the pop rice group as compared to the other two groups (p < 0.05). The number of breast feeds and intake of artificial milk was however similar in all groups (p > 0.05).