Food-based solutions are a viable alternative to glucose-electrolyte solutions for oral hydration in acute diarrhoea--studies in a rat model of secretory diarrhoea.
A survey of acute diarrhoea and its treatment, in 3 groups of villages in south India, revealed that use of the World Health Organization oral rehydration solution (WHO-ORS) was poor or virtually non-existent and that several liquid foods were given to children during acute diarrhoea. The effects of the most commonly used, boiled and cooled supernatants of these liquid foods [rice (Oryza sativa)-water, ragi (Eleusine coracana)-water, arrowroot (Maranta arundinacea)-water], and tender coconut-water, and of the bicarbonate- and citrate-WHO-ORS on intestinal water transport were evaluated using a rat model of secretory diarrhoea. All solutions either decreased cholera toxin-induced net water secretion (arrowroot-water) or reversed it to net absorption. Ragi-water produced maximum net water absorption, significantly greater than the WHO oral rehydration solutions. WHO-ORS utilization is poor in some developing countries, and locally used food-based solutions could be used for maintaining hydration or correcting the dehydration due to acute diarrhoea once their effectiveness has been proved by clinical trials.
Rolston
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Wellcome Research Unit, Christian Medical College Hospital, Vellore, India.
Mathew
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Mathan
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D000208:Acute Disease; D000818:Animals; D001639:Bicarbonates / Q000627:therapeutic use; D003625:Data Collection; D003967:Diarrhea / Q000628:therapy*; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D004573:Electrolytes / Q000627:therapeutic use; D005440:Fluid Therapy; D005947:Glucose / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use; D006801:Humans; D007194:India; D010342:Patient Acceptance of Health Care; D011189:Potassium Chloride / Q000627:therapeutic use; D051381:Rats; D015532:Rehydration Solutions / Q000627:therapeutic use; D012965:Sodium Chloride / Q000627:therapeutic use
D001639:Bicarbonates; D004573:Electrolytes; D015532:Rehydration Solutions; C044142:World Health Organization oral rehydration solution; D012965:Sodium Chloride; D011189:Potassium Chloride; D005947:Glucose