| Abstrakt: |
A study was performed to estimate intestinal absorption of electrolytes, administered in cow's milk, during recovery from diarrheal dehydration. Seven marasmic children with diarrheal dehydration and estimated acute losses of over 10% of body weight were studied. Metabolic balance collections were performed for at least 6 days, starting from admission. After recovery from the acute episode all children had weight and height under the third percentile for Brazilian standards and were free of edema.Recovery was uneventful for all children, with improvement of diarrhea on the third day. During the first day, no milk was administered, one-third strength cow's milk was started on the second day and, depending on tolerance, increased in amount and strength to whole cow's milk by the end of the sixth day.Significant correlations between amounts ingested and absorbed were observed for all electrolytes from the fourth day onwards. The average percentage of absorption of Na, K, and C1 increased from the third day onwards, with significant differences of the second day in relation to the fifth and sixth days. The average percentage of absorption of Ca, Mg, and P was almost constant from the second day.This study shows that in marasmic children with diarrheal dehydration absorption of electrolytes in cow's milk can be predictable only when diarrhea improves. During the initial recovery period, no correlation was found between amounts administered and absorbed. |
