Conalbumin in the treatment of acute enteritis in the infant.

Conalbumin, a glycoprotein derived from eggwhite, has the property, like lactoferrin, of binding iron ions. This property prompted the authors to undertake an experimental study on acute enteritis in infants in the first year of life. Forty infants with acute enteritis, not complicated by ionic imbalance or severe dehydration, were randomly allocated to two groups. The subjects of the first group were treated with the traditional dietetic therapy; those of the second were treated with the same diet plus conalbumin for periods ranging from 6 to 10 days. General condition, the alvus and body-weight trends were evaluated during and after the treatment period. Stool cultures were also carried out during treatment. In the group of children treated with conalbumin the results were: excellent in 5 subjects (25%), good in 13 (65%), fair in 1 (5%) and null in 1 (5%). The general status and the time needed to normalize the alvus were statistically significant (p less than 0.001) in favour of conalbumin. Body-weight in the two groups showed no significant difference. Neither metabolic alterations nor intolerance phenomena were noted during treatment with conalbumin. In conclusion, conalbumin demonstrated therapeutic properties against acute enteritis in infants through the rapid normalization of the alvus. No side-effects were noted.