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Analysis of 91 commercial dietary "clear" fluids, including carbonated beverages, cordials, powdered drinks, jellies, fruit juices, fruit juice drinks, syrups, and soups showed a range of zero to 175 mmol/L of sodium, zero to 52.1 mmol/L of potassium, zero to 839 mmol/L of reducing sugars and an osmolality of 50 to 914 mmol/kg water. Home-made oral rehydration solutions prepared by a group of mothers and medical staff members also showed unacceptably wide variability in their composition. The composition of products specifically indicated for the treatment of diarrhoea was also remarkably diverse, with a range of 24 to 100 mmol/L of sodium, 14.2 to 21.0 mmol/L of potassium, 45 to 326 mmol/L of glucose, and 170 to 460 mmol/kg water osmolality. On the basis of our current knowledge of water and electrolyte absorption, neither the commercial dietary "clear" fluids nor the home-made solutions can be recommended for the treatment of diarrhoea. Of the therapeutic products, only "Unicef Oral Rehydration Salts" has been subjected to clinical trails and found safe and effective. However, the formulation of Diolyte appears appropriate for the treatment of mild diarrhoeal dehydration.