Clinical trial on the efficacy and safety of added glycine and glucyl glycine to oral rehydration solution

ABSTRACT

This study was undertaken to determine the efficacy and safety of using an ORS with added glycine and glycyl-glycine. This was a double blind, controlled clinical trial. Randomization was done using permuted blocks of variables lenghts. The code was entrusted to personnel not connected with the research and obtained only after submission of observations. The patients were allocated to receive either the standard WHO-ORS formulation or the ORS-glycine and glycyl-glycine formulation. Addition of glycine and glycyl-glycine did not offer beneficial effects in terms of reduction of stool volume and duration of diarrhea. The absorption-promoting quality of the glycine and glycyl-glycine added to the ORS was observed by the higher weight gain after rehydration, 24 hours and, on discharge, despite a higher stool output. This property was offset by the consequent osmotic penalty