Mothers in rural Bangladesh were trained to prepare and use either Rice-ORS
(R-ORS) or Glucose-ORS (G-ORS) solutions to treat children with diarrhoea.
Families were provided with either G-ORS or R-ORS of the same electrolyte
composition through a depot holder. Subsequently, random samples of solutio
ns actually used for treatment by the mothers were collected from homes by
field workers. A total of 227 R-ORS and 239 G-ORS samples were analysed. Th
e sodium concentration in about 90% of the samples had a safe range (50-120
mmol/l). Only 4% of R-ORS solutions were above 120 mmol/l in sodium concen
tration, while 12% of G-ORS solutions exceeded these limits (p < 0.0025). R
-ORS (after acid hydrolysis) provided significantly higher glucose (257 +/-
32 mmol/l) for active but safe absorption compared to G-ORS (115 +/- 39 mm
ol/l). To make R-ORS liquid enough to drink requires addition of sufficient
water, preventing the risk of higher sodium concentration.
Unlike rice starch, glucose is a highly soluble substance. It is thus possi
ble to prepare a drinkable solution containing dangerously high concentrati
ons of both sodium and glucose, but this can be minimized by more intensive
training of the mothers.