Glycine, glycyl-glycine and maltodextrin based oral rehydration solution. Assessment of efficacy and safety in comparison to standard ORS

Abstract

We evaluated the efficacy and safety of an oral rehydration solution containing glycyl-glycine, glycine, and maltodextrin (GGG-ORS), in comparison to the glucose based ORS (standard ORS). The osmolality of the GGG-ORS (305 mOsm/l) and standard ORS (311 mOsm/l) was similar. Ninety-two children presenting with acute gastroenteritis and moderate dehydration, aged 3 months to 3 years, were randomly assigned to receive standard ORS or GGG-ORS. All the patients were successfully rehydrated orally. The two groups were comparable for baseline characteristics including the microbial etiology. Rotavirus (49%, 36%), ETEC (11%, 18%) or a combination of rotavirus and ETEC (15%, 9%) were the main stool pathogens isolated. There was no significant difference in the mean stool output or duration of diarrhoea between the two groups. Patients in the GGG-ORS group had higher urine output (p less than 0.01) and weight gain (p less than 0.05) in the initial 6 hours when feeding was withheld, but no such differences were observed beyond this period. Hypernatremia did not develop in any patient during the study. We conclude that glycine and glycyl-glycine supplemented oral rehydration solution does not have any therapeutic advantage in the treatment of acute gastroenteritis with moderate dehydration caused predominantly by rotavirus.