Oral rehydration solution with improved taste

Abstract

Oral rehydration solutions (ORSs), methods of preparing ORSs and methods of delivering rehydration therapy are disclosed herein. In some embodiments, an ORS includes a non-starch viscosity enhancing polymer and a sodium salt. The ORS may include at least approximately 50 millimoles of dissolved sodium per liter. Other embodiments may be described and/or claimed.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . An oral rehydration solution (ORS) for human consumption, comprising:
 a potassium salt such that the ORS comprises between approximately 10 and approximately 25 millimoles of dissolved potassium per liter;   a citrate salt such that the ORS comprises between approximately 4 and approximately 6 millimoles of dissolved citrate salt per liter;   hydrochloric acid, ascorbic acid, lactic acid, or L-glutamine for pH adjustment to aid in the interference between sodium ion receptors on a human tongue and sodium content at or exceeding 40 mmol/L;   a non-starch viscosity enhancing sodium salt polymer including sodium carboxymethyl cellulose; and   a second sodium salt different from the non-starch viscosity enhancing sodium salt polymer;   wherein:
 the ORS comprises between approximately 0.1 and approximately 0.25 wt % sodium carboxymethyl cellulose; 
 the ORS comprises at least approximately 50 millimoles of dissolved sodium per liter; 
 the ORS includes glucose in an amount such that a molar ratio of glucose to sodium is approximately one-to-one; 
 the ORS includes citric acid in an amount between approximately 1.3 grams per liter and approximately 1.8 grams per liter; 
 the ORS includes erythritol in an amount of between approximately 14 and 28 millimoles per liter; 
 the ORS has a pH greater than approximately 3.8 and less than approximately 4.5; and 
 the sodium carboxymethyl cellulose is present in an amount that when mixed with saliva from the human forms a mucus layer barrier which prevents the interaction of sodium ions in the ORS with the taste buds on the human tongue.