A new palatable oral rehydration solution: A randomised controlled cross‐over study in patients with a high output stoma

• Published in: Journal of human nutrition and dietetics Vol. 35; no. 1; pp. 94 - 101
• Main Authors: Culkin, Alison, Gabe, Simon M., Nightingale, Jeremy M. D.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: England Blackwell Publishing Ltd 01.02.2022
• Subjects: Cholera; Cholera - therapy; Cross-Over Studies; Diarrhea; Fluid Therapy; Glucose; high output stoma; Humans; ileostomy; jejunostomy; oral rehydration solution; Ostomy; palatability; Rehydration; Rehydration Solutions; Sodium; Waterborne diseases; high output stoma; jejunostomy; ileostomy; oral rehydration solution; palatability
• ISSN: 0952-3871; 1365-277X
• DOI: 10.1111/jhn.12935

Background Patients with a jejunostomy or high output stoma may need a glucose–sodium oral rehydration solution drink to maintain hydration. These solutions are unpalatable and a new flavoured pre‐packaged solution was developed. Methods After 8 h of fasting, 27 patients took 500 mL of the modified World Health Organization (WHO) cholera solution or Glucodrate® (Vitaflo) on two occasions in a cross‐over random order and urine and stomal output was collected for 6 h. Results There was a small but significant difference in net sodium absorption in favour of the modified WHO cholera solution (10 ± 28 mmol modified WHO cholera solution vs. −1 ± 26 mmol Glucodrate®, p = 0.01). However the Glucodrate® was more palatable, with 24 patients (89%) preferring it to the modified WHO cholera solution (p < 0.005). Conclusions Glucodrate® is a more palatable solution than the modified WHO cholera solution and is almost as effective and so can be used when patients find the modified WHO cholera solution unpalatable.