low osmolarity oral rehydration salts

Hypo-osmolar oral rehydration solution (ORS) is a specialized electrolyte and glucose formulation used to treat dehydration caused by acute watery diarrhea, including cholera. Developed to improve upon the standard WHO ORS, it features a reduced osmolarity (typically 245 mOsm/L) by lowering sodium and glucose concentrations. This reduction minimizes the osmotic penalty in the intestinal lumen, thereby reducing stool output and the risk of vomiting while maintaining effective rehydration. The solution works by leveraging the sodium-glucose cotransporter 1 (SGLT1) in the intestinal epithelium to facilitate the coupled transport of sodium and water. The International Centre for Diarrhoeal Disease Research, Bangladesh (ICDDR,B) has been instrumental in its clinical validation and implementation.

Other names

hypo-osmolar oral rehydration solutionhypo-osmolar ORSlow osmolar ORSreduced osmolarity ORSlow osmolarity oral rehydration solution