Tolerability and Acceptability of Fibersol-2 (Resistant Maltodextrin) in Healthy and Diarrheal Children Followed by a Randomized Clinical Trial to Evaluate the Efficacy of Fibersol-2 in Diarrheal Children 1-3 Years Old

Detailed Summary

Dietary fiber, a non-digestible carbohydrate, used in decades for the beneficial effect on health with physiological importance because such compounds have low energy values. These indigestible carbohydrates generally reach the large intestine undigested and unabsorbed, they are often used in many functional and/or low-calorie food and beverages. Researchers have stated that dietary fiber especially digestive-resistant maltodextrin has innumerable beneficial effects on human health, such as improving intestinal regularity by increasing fecal bulk, stimulating peristalsis and shortening gastrointestinal transit time. Resistant maltodextrin (Fibersol-2) is a low viscosity, water-soluble, indigestible dextrin produced by the treatment of corn starch with acid, enzymes, and heat. Dietary fiber, a non-digestible carbohydrate, has been used in decades for the beneficial effect of health with physiological importance. In developing countries most of the diarrhea episodes occur during the first two years of life and till date antibiotics have been found to have no role in over seventy five percent of young childhood diarrhea. Toddler's diarrhea which affects children aged 6 to 60 months is known as chronic nonspecific diarrhea of childhood. The stool is frequently watery or loose and may have food particles in it. Despite the diarrhea, the child continues to grow and gain weight, remains active and has a normal appetite. The beneficial effects of resistant maltodextrin are well known in developed countries; however, data are lacking in developing countries. It has become imperative to know its safety, tolerability and acceptability in small children with or without diarrhea in developing countries such as in Bangladesh.

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