Comparing two types of oral rehydration solutions for treating severe diarrhea in adults
Official title: Next generation ORS: Randomized controlled trial comparing ORS with calcium vs standard ORS in reducing severity of adults with acute watery diarrhea
Funded at University of Florida · NIH-10761797 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is looking at whether a new drink with added calcium can help adults with acute watery diarrhea recover faster than the usual rehydration drink, and we're inviting people with this condition to see how well it works!
Quick facts
| Grant type | R21 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Florida NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Gainesville, United States) |
| Project start | January 6, 2023 |
| Project end | December 31, 2025 |
| Funding year | 2024 |
| Award (this year) | $104,632 |
| NIH project number | 5R21AI169282-02 |
| Project ID | NIH-10761797 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research are adults aged 21 and older who are experiencing acute watery diarrhea.
✕Less likely to help
Patients with chronic diarrhea or those who do not have acute watery diarrhea may not benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This research investigates the effectiveness of a new oral rehydration solution (ORS) that includes calcium compared to the standard ORS in adults suffering from acute watery diarrhea. The study aims to understand how the addition of calcium can help restore lost ions and improve recovery from diarrhea. Participants will be randomly assigned to receive either the calcium-enhanced ORS or the standard ORS, and their recovery will be monitored to assess the severity and duration of their symptoms. This approach is based on the understanding that both monovalent and divalent ions play crucial roles in gut health during diarrheal illnesses.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to improved treatment options for adults with acute watery diarrhea, potentially reducing the severity and duration of their illness.
How similar studies have gone: Previous studies have shown promising results with similar approaches in children, but this specific investigation in adults is novel.
Where this research is happening
-
University of Florida
Gainesville, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Cheng, Sam X — University of Florida
- Study coordinator: Cheng, Sam X
Related research
Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.
-
Cognitive behavioral therapy and trazodone for insomnia phenotypes with high blood pressure
A clinical study tests how CBT-I and the sleep drug trazodone work for adults with insomnia and high blood pressure, focusing on a specific sleep duration pattern.
-
PediCODE: A Biorepository and Consortium for CoDE - Congenital Diarrhea and Enteropathy
A nationwide effort to collect clinical data and patient-derived samples to uncover the genetic causes of congenital diarrhea and enteropathy and to build a resource that helps researchers study these diseases.
-
Shorter antifungal treatment for kids with candidemia
A multi-center pediatric trial tests whether a shorter, 7 extra days of antifungal therapy after an initial 7 days is just as good as the standard 14-day approach for kids with candidemia who are improving on echinocandin therapy.
-
Short Course vs Standard Course Antifungal Therapy for Pediatric Candidemia
This study tests whether a shorter 7-day total antifungal treatment after an initial 7 days of echinocandin therapy is as effective as the usual 14-day course for children with candidemia.
-
Shorter antifungal treatment for kids with candidemia
A multi-center study tests whether kids with candidemia can finish treatment earlier after an initial week of antifungal therapy than the standard two weeks total.
-
Shorter antifungal treatment for kids with candidemia
This study tests whether children with candidemia can finish treatment after 7 days of an echinocandin if they are improving, instead of completing a full 14 days.
About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page.