| Abstract: |
This article considers the use of one type of diet often prescribed during acute diarrhea in children, the BRAT diet, which consists of bananas, rice, applesauce, and toast (or tea). The authors note that although many studies support the importance of enteral nutrition in recovery from diarrhea, there are few data concerning the effectiveness of specific food types. They review the limited data that address the safety and efficacy of diets with bananas, rice, and other dietary components in treating diarrhea. In addition, they review the nutritional content of this restrictive diet and find it lacking in energy, fat, and several micronutrients. The selection of a single type of restrictive diet, such as the BRAT diet, during diarrhea can impair nutritional recovery and lead to severe malnutrition. They conclude that prompt feeding during an acute episode of diarrhea and avoiding unnecessarily restrictive diets is the recommended dietary therapy during acute diarrhea. 1 figure. 1 table. 22 references. |