The Science of Hydration


HYDRATION IS ALL ABOUT ABSORPTION


Today: A Breakthrough in Nanotechnology and Biotechnology

Hydrus’ Nanosome™ encapsulation is a bio-delivery breakthrough in the science of hydration. It is a fast, active delivery system that uses nano encapsulation to achieve higher absorption of electrolytes and water, getting them very quickly into the body’s fluid systems (i.e. the bloodstream, lymphatic system and interstitial water) beginning in the mouth.

The science of Nanosome™ Encapsulation, combining microbiology and nanotechnology, is the most elegant oral delivery system ever developed. The Nanosomes™ are less than 100 nanometers in size (one-billionth of a meter).

They are the body's perfect delivery system... Nanosomes™ are small hollow sphere shaped molecules that encapsulate electrolytes and water, made of phospholipids, which is the same material found in all cell walls within the body.

  • Disperse evenly in water
  • Absorb instantly beginning in the mouth
  • Require no digestive activity prior to absorption
  • Will not cause bloating
  • Supports superior post activity recovery

Test results show a clear superiority in electrolyte and water absorption as compared with other oral rehydration solutions, including the current, advanced WHO-ORS 75 (2002) formulation. An early version of liposome encapsulated electrolyte solution was evaluated at the International Centre for Diarrheal Disease Research, Bangladesh (Icddr,b) and showed 5-8 times (500% to 800%) more absorption than the gold standard of hydration, the WHO-ORS 75 (2002) formulation in two studies.

Icddr,b is a leading international health research organization located in Dhaka, Bangladesh dedicated to saving lives through research and treatment, addressing some of the most critical health concerns facing the world today. The Centre has, among its other accomplishments, played a major role in the discovery and implementation of oral rehydration therapy for the treatment of diarrhea and cholera and conducted a highly controlled, mechanistic study done as an early part of product development.

In the study,

Results indicated a clear superiority in water and electrolyte absorption as compared with other oral rehydration solutions, including the current advanced WHO formulation… [the liposomal formulation] versus the WHO gold standard formulation was 5x and up to 8x more effective.”1

Hydrus is sweetened by stevia, uses natural flavors, and contains electrolytes (sodium, potassium and chloride) and Phosphatidylcholine, which is an essential substance found in every human cell. The importance of hydration is well established whether for sports, leisure or at work activities. Hydrus works fast and delivers higher amounts of electrolytes and water to cells throughout the body. Hydrus contains no sugar or carbohydrates, unlike sports drinks, therapeutic drinks and oral rehydration solutions (ORS) that rely upon the glucose-sodium co-transport mechanism for their function.


Yesterday: 50 Years Ago A Discovery Changed the World

Robert Crane’s 1960 “...discovery that sodium transport and glucose transport are coupled in the small intestine, so that glucose accelerates absorption of solute and water, was potentially the most important medical advance this [20th] century... (1978, in The Lancet, 2nd ranked general medical journal, after The New England Journal of Medicine).”

Crane's discovery of co transport led directly to the development of oral rehydration therapy. This treatment counterbalances the loss of water and electrolytes caused by cholera via a glucose containing salt solution that facilitates water and electrolyte absorption. This is possible because cholera does not interfere with sodium-glucose co transport.

In 1968, researchers in Bangladesh and India discovered that adding the right proportions glucose and salt to water enabled the liquid to be absorbed through the intestinal wall. So anyone suffering from diarrhoea could replace the lost fluids and salts simply by drinking this solution.

Oral rehydration therapy has saved the lives of millions of cholera patients in underdeveloped countries since the 1970s.

To be most effective, an ORS must contain a precise ratio of electrolytes to carbohydrates. Too much or too little salt or sugar limits the solution’s hydrating potential. Research shows that the effective ratio of sodium to carbohydrates ranges from 2 to 1 to as high as 2 to 7 with evidence that 2 to 3 appears optimal.2 These adjustments to Dr. Crane’s 50 year old discovery change effectiveness by a few percentage points one way or the other.

Many “rehydration drinks” don’t contain the right ratio of electrolytes for optimal hydration. For example, sports drinks are the perfect example as they contain an inordinately large amount of sugar in order to make the drink taste good; the amount of salt is decreased to reflect the body’s requirement to replace sweat. However, the more sugar used, the slower the absorption; this is called the Osmotic penalty.

Many Oral Rehydration Solutions, on the other hand, contain an optimal amount of sugar and electrolytes, more sodium and potassium to replace lost body fluid during diarrhoea, but due to this, their taste is very salty and makes it more challenging to get children to drink them when they’re sick.

In the 50 years following Dr. Crane’s discovery, three rehydration drink categories emerged for:

  1. Life-saving rehydration
  2. Children’s rehydration, primarily for fluid replacement from diarrhea
  3. Sweat replacement, largely for athletic and work activities

The three categories generally differ by their levels of electrolytes and carbohydrates, as shown in the table below:

Solution Sodium
(mmoI/L)
Potassium
(mmoI/L)
Chloride
(mmoI/L)
Osmolarity
(mOsm/L)
Carbs
(gm/L)
Sodium to
Carb Ratio
WHO-ORS 75 (2002) 75 20 65 245 13.5 3 to 3
Leading Therapeutic Drink 45 20 35 250 25 2 to 7
Leading Sports Drink 20 4 11 300 58 1 to 15

Numerous companies have introduced alternatives differentiated by flavor, carbohydrate and electrolyte levels, but the difference within each category in effective hydration typically varies by only small percentages.

Conclusion
Hydrus is the new science of hydration. The Hydrus Nanosomes™ get electrolytes into the bloodstream faster and better than anyone else and Hydrus does it without the need for sugar. Hydrus is all about absorption. The ingredients are all natural, sweetened with Stevia so it tastes really good and it's really good for you. We're 100% confident that nothing compares to Hydrus for effective hydration. We know that "You will feel the difference Hydrus makes".

(1) According to investigators from Johns Hopkins and International Centre for Diarrhoeal Disease Research, Bangladesh P.K. Bardhan, A.S.M. Hamidur Rahman, David A. Sack in “Absorption of water and electrolytes from a liposomal oral rehydration solution: an in vivo perfusion study...”

(2) Schedl, H. P., R. J. Maughan and C. V. Gisolfi. Intestinal absorption during rest and exercise: implications for formulating and oral rehydration solution (ORS). Med. Sci. Sports Exerc., Vol. 26, No. 3, pp 267-280, 1994.