Effects of carob-bean gum thickened formulas on infants’ reflux and tolerance indices

Table 2 Changes in “symptom related” 24 h pH monitoring indices from baseline to follow-up examination by study group

	Baseline		Follow up		2-wk change		P-value(treatment x time)
	Mean	(SD)	Mean	(SD)	Mean change	(95%CI)
Symptom index for reflux (SI)							0.0483
Formula A (n = 16)	39.7	-26.2	21.6	-14.5	-18.23	(-31.8 to -4.57)3
Formula B (n = 15)	24.5	-27.2	19.7	-20.8	-5.21	(-19.5 to 9.03)
Formula C (n = 16)	27.7	-20.6	33.7	-24.8	6.49	(-7.39 to 20.4)
P value (Treatment effect)	0.213		0.119
Symptom association probability1							0.096
Formula A (n = 16)	87.4	-25.2	49.5	-42.5	-37.93	(-64.6 to -11.3)3
Formula B (n = 15)	54.6	-47.3	58.7	-40.2	3.82	(-24.1 to 31.7)
Formula C (n = 16)	82.9	-33.8	57.8	-38.3	-24.8	(-52.0 to 2.37)
P value (Treatment effect)	0.031		0.762
Percentage of acid refluxes2 (%)							0.067
Formula A (n = 16)	39.8	-26.1	22.6	-15.0	-17.23	(-30.8 to -3.66)3
Formula B (n = 15)	24.6	-27.3	19.4	-20.8	-5.53	(-19.7 to 8.65)
Formula C (n = 16)	27.7	-20.4	33.3	-25.3	5.93	(-7.89 to 19.8)
P value (Treatment effect)	0.21		0.152
Percentage of all reflux (%)							0.0143
Formula A (n = 16)	47.9	-22.3	31.0	-18.1	-16.93	(-31.3 to -2.28)3
Formula B (n = 15)	35.1	-23.6	36.8	-28.7	1.78	(-13.3 to 16.9)
Formula C (n = 16)	33.7	-22.3	48.2	-28.8	14.4	(-0.28 to 29.2)
P value (Treatment effect)	0.167		0.201

¹Probability that symptom and reflux are not associated solely by chance;

²Percentage of acid refluxes out of the total number of refluxes occurring during the 24 h monitoring;

³Indicate statistical significant findings. The “symptom related” 24 h pH monitoring indices include those indices recorded during the 24 h pH monitoring procedure requiring caregiver’s interference by pressing the “event button”. Adjustment was made for the average volume of milk consumed by infants per day during the intervention period.