Table 2.

Feeds containing lactose versus lactose-free feeds in children with mild-to-severe dehydration: results of subsequent RCTs.

Intervention	Participants (age)	Duration of diarrhoea	Weight gain	Total stool output (mL/kg body weight)	Treatment failure
Cows' milk v soy-based formula	76 children with acute diarrhoea and mild-to-moderate dehydration (2–12 months)	L > LF; 6.6 days v 4.5 days; P < 0.01	NS	NR	NS
Lactose v lactose-free formula	60 children with acute diarrhoea (<1 year)	NS	NS	NR	NR
Lactose v lactose-free formula	52 children with acute diarrhoea and mild-to-moderate dehydration (1–24 months)	NS	NS	NR	NS
Soy-based formula with lactose v soy-based formula with sucrose	200 boys with acute diarrhoea (3–18 months)	L > LF; 39 hours v 23 hours; P < 0.001	NS	L > LF; mean 164 (95% CI 131 to 208) v 69 (95% CI 55 to 87); P < 0.001	NS
Lactose-free v low lactose v lactose formula	91 children with acute gastroenteritis (<24 months)	L > LF; 38 hours v 25 hours; P < 0.03	L < LF; 7.48 kg v 7.84 kg; P < 0.05	NR	NR

NR, not recorded; NS, non-significant; L, lactose-containing; LF, lactose free.