Table 3

Laboratory Data of Patients on Admission*

Apple Juice n = 30

White Grape Juice n = 30

Water^* n = 30

χ

SD

χ

SD

χ

SD

Serum Sodium (mEq/l)

142.03

5.45

140.96

3.51

140.51

5.39

Serum Potassium (mEq/l)

3.99

0.59

3.95

0.81

4.27

0.78

Hematocrit (%)

31.17

3.29

30.93

2.50

32.03

3.55

Hemoglobin (g/dl)

10.28

1.13

10.24

0.87

10.58

1.19

No Anemia

06(n)

20.0 %

02(n)

6.7 %

07(n)

23.3 %

Mild Anemia †

20(n)

66.7 %

26(n)

86.6%

20(n)

66.7 %

Severe Anemia†

04(n)

13.3 %

02(n)

6.7 %

03(n)

10.0 %

Rotavirus

19(n)

63.3 %

18(n)

60.0 %

18(n)

60.0 %

Parasites‡

05(n)

16.7%.

04(n)

13.3 %

01(n)

3.3 %

*There were no significant differences among groups by ANOVA p > 0.05.

† The criteria for mild Anemia was a hemoglobin less than 11.0 g/dl and for severe anemia was a hemoglobin less than 9 g/dl (WHO, 1989)

‡ The parasites detected were: Ascaris lumbricoides (4), Giardia lamblia (1) Blastocytes hominis (1) Entamoeba coli (1) and Cryptosporidium parvum (3).

n = number of patients and % of patients in each category

^xColoured/flavoured to resemble juice

Valois et al. Nutrition Journal 2005 4:23   doi:10.1186/1475-2891-4-23