[Liquid intake measurement based on deuterium dilution].

Studies were carried out to ascertain methodological aspects and the validity of the deuterium dilution technique to determine maternal milk intake. Our study, conducted in 2-3 months-old normal infants, indicated that isotopic equilibrium is reached 6-8 hours after administration of an initial dose of 16.5% deuterium solution. Comparisons of liquid intake measured on a group of infants recovering from marasmic undernutrition, by the isotopic method and by direct recording of bottle-fed milk, revealed a good correlation of the respective values when the infants' body water was estimated using the Friis-Hansen formula. These findings suggest that the deuterium dilution technique is a valuable alternative to the current methods used to the measurement of maternal milk intake.