B 221, a medical food containing antisecretory factor reduces child diarrhoea: a placebo controlled trial

Abstract Aim: We investigated whether egg yolk in the form of B221 (Salovum), a medical food containing antisecretory factor (AF) might be used for treatment of acute and prolonged diarrhoea. Methods: 240 children 6–24 months of age, half with acute diarrhoea (<7 days) and half with prolonged diarrhoea (≥7 days) were randomly given 2 g of B221 or placebo every 5 h for 3 days, added to an oral rehydration salt solution. Results: B221 reduced the number of stools in the acute diarrhoea group compared with placebo (day 3, p = 0.0054). Stools normalizing in consistency (day 3, p = 0.053) and recovery within 3 days was commoner in the B221 group (p < 0.001). A successful outcome was recorded in 82.8% in the B221 group, compared to 54.4% in the placebo group. In the group with prolonged diarrhoea the stool consistency normalized earlier in the patients receiving B221 than in the patients receiving placebo (p = 0.008). A successful outcome was obtained in 90.9% and 63.2%, (p = 0.0011) in the B221 and placebo‐treated groups respectively. Conclusion: B221, which is a medical food, can be used to significantly improve the condition of children with acute, as well as prolonged diarrhoea caused by a broad range of undefined pathogens.