STUDIES OF WATER-MOVEMENT ACROSS THE GUT USING ORAL REHYDRATION SOLUTIONS IN A RAT PERFUSION MODEL

Aim: To measure water influx and efflux, as well as net water, sodium and potassium absorption from a range of oral rehydration solutions (O RS) in which the glucose content had been partially replaced with the amino acid leucine or with food supplements. Methods: A series of in v ivo steady-state perfusion studies in normal rat intestine. The oral r ehydration solutions contained 60 or 90 mmol/L of sodium. The referenc e solution used was the World Health Organization (WHO) formula. Resul ts: There was a significant negative correlation between the oral rehy dration solution osmolality and net water absorption (r = -0.722, P < 0.05). The highest net water absorption occurred using comminuted chic ken supplemented oral rehydration solution containing 60 mmol/L sodium (P < 0.001). This oral rehydration solution also showed a significant increase in the rate of influx of water (P < 0.05) in comparison with the WHO formula containing 60 mmol/L sodium. Conclusion: This work pr ovides further evidence that food-based oral rehydration solutions, in cluding non-vegetable sources, may have a useful role to play in the m anagement of patients with acute diarrhoea.