Effectiveness of folic acid supplementation in acute watery diarrhea among children under 5 years of age.

Abstract

Objective: To compare the mean duration of diarrhea among children diagnosed with acute watery diarrhea and treated with folic acid versus placebo in addition to standard treatment. Study Design: Randomized Controlled Trial. Setting: Department of Pediatric Medicine, Allama Iqbal Memorial Teaching Hospital, Sialkot. Period: Oct 2025 to March 2026. Methods: 82 children aged 2 months to 5 years who were diagnosed with acute watery diarrhea as per operational definition and met the inclusion criteria and presented to the Department of Pediatric Medicine at Allama Iqbal Memorial Teaching Hospital Sialkot were included in this study. Results: The median age was 32 years (IQR: 20.5-51) in the folic acid group and 32 years (IQR: 14.5–45) in the placebo group. Mann–Whitney U test demonstrated a statistically insignificant difference between the two groups (p = 0.278). There were 24 (58.5%) male and 17 (41.5%) females found in Group A while 23 (56.1%) male and 18 (43.9%) females in Group B. The comparison of duration of diarrhea showed significant difference between both groups p-value 0.016. Conclusion: This study demonstrates that folic acid provides no additional therapeutic advantages to babies and young children suffering from acute watery diarrhea when given with hydration and electrolyte therapy. This information should assist healthcare providers and doctors in averting the unwarranted use of folate in the management of acute watery diarrhea in children.