No abstract

No abstract

Vitamin A absorption was studied in a group of 28 adult patients with ascariasis and 12 healthy adult controls, using a simplified vitamin A absorption test. In over 70% of the patients with ascariasis malabsorption of vitamin A was demonstrated. Stool egg counts for ascaris were not related to the degree of vitamin A malabsorption. Of the 23 patients in whom a D-xylose absorption test was performed, seven showed excretion less than 20% in 5 hr. Immediately after expulsion of the worms, vitamin A absorption improved in 13 out of 14 patients tested (in nine to normal level). The results of this study suggest that ascariasis in populations on marginal intakes of vitamin A and its precursors is an important contributing factor in producing clinical vitamin A deficiency.

No abstract

In a double blind trial a glycine fortified oral glucose electrolyte solution was evaluated in a group of infants and small children (n=25) with moderate to severe dehydration due to acute diarrhoea, and was compared with a matched control group (n=26) receiving only glucose based oral rehydration solution. It is seen that the diarrhoea stool output, duration of diarrhoea, and volume of oral rehydration fluid required to achieve and maintain hydration are significantly lower in the group receiving glycine fortified glucose electrolyte solution. The possibility of developing an oral rehydration solution which could also act as an absorption promoting drug is discussed.