Study Status: Completed
Recruit Status: Completed
Study Type: Interventional
Official Title: Efficacy of Lysine Supplementation in Reducing Attack Rates of Diarrhea in Adults: a Community-based Randomized Trial in Urban Bangladesh
Brief Summary:
Diarrhea as of today is still a major problem in developing world with high morbidity. Though mortality in under-5 children has declined over the years, diarrhea was responsible for 2.5 million deaths per year in developing countries. A median of 3.2 episodes of diarrhea in under-5 children per child-year has been estimated in developing countries. In Bangladesh, the overall prevalence of diarrhea was estimated to be about 2% for the entire population. However, a recent survey in 2003 with urban slum mothers indicated that the prevalence of diarrhea ranged from 0.7-4.1% in six divisional cities with 0.7% in Dhaka slum areas. Malnutrition remains the major adverse prognostic indicator for diarrhea related morbidity, which emphasizes importance of nutrition in early management. Repeated episodes of diarrhea are a frequent cause and consequence of malnutrition. To improve diarrhea situation in Bangladesh and elsewhere, interventions are directed to reduce mortality and morbidity through improvement of breast-feeding practices, complementary feeding, sanitation, increase in measles immunization rates, micronutrient supplementation, and oral rehydration therapy.
L-lysine, an essential amino acid, is required for healthy growth, tissue repair and enzyme production. It is a protein-building block that strengthens and nourishes the structural, circulatory and immune systems. It is not produced by the body like other essential amino acids and must be obtained from the diet. Some natural food sources for L-lysine include Lima beans, kidney beans, potatoes, corn, red meat, fish and milk. The mean requirement of lysine in healthy human adults is about 30 mg/kg body weight/day or 50 mg/g protein intake. Studies have shown that lysine therapy improves immune status and is used as a therapeutic agent in herpes simplex viral infection. A double-blind randomized trial of L-lysine treatmen