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Article
September 1973

Lactose-Free, Medium-Chain Triglyceride Formulas in Severe Malnutrition

Author Affiliations

Baltimore; Lima, Peru
From the Department of Pediatrics, School of Medicine (Dr. Graham), and the Department of International Health, School of Hygiene and Public Health (Drs. Graham and Baertl), Johns; Hopkins University, Baltimore, and Instituto de Investigacion Nutricional, Miraflores, Lima, Peru (Drs. Cordano and Morales).

Am J Dis Child. 1973;126(3):330-335. doi:10.1001/archpedi.1973.02110190292008
Abstract

A lactose-free, medium-chain triglyceride (MCT)-casein formula (Lactose-Free Portagen) was used with success gen) the management of four children with kwashiorkor and three infants with persistent hypoalbuminemia, two of whom had associated infections. A second formula (Pregestimil), based on a casein hydrolysate and MCTs, with dextrose as the major carbohydrate, was used successfully in five infants with severe marasmus, one with kwashiorkor, and five with marasmus, severe diarrhea, and infection. The absence of lactose was of definite benefit, as was probably the MCT content. It is probable that the dextrose was of benefit to some of the sickest infants but this was not proved in these studies.

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