sodium cotransport is really cool. while the gut can absorb glucose and sodium individually through several different pathways, there is a really important transporter (SGLT1) which carries glucose and sodium at the same time.
this is really important for rehydration. suppose you have cholera and vomit a lot and get super dehydrated as a result. drinking just water sucks, because you need to replenish the electrolytes that you’re losing too. but water with salts is still not optimal, because it’s absorbed less efficiently (also i think cholera interferes with some of the other absorbtion paths?). then one day some guy discovered cotransport, and invented a rehydration solution with not just salts but also glucose. this simple discovery and resulting invention has saved millions of lives
sodium cotransport is really cool. while the gut can absorb glucose and sodium individually through several different pathways, there is a really important transporter (SGLT1) which carries glucose and sodium at the same time.
this is really important for rehydration. suppose you have cholera and vomit a lot and get super dehydrated as a result. drinking just water sucks, because you need to replenish the electrolytes that you’re losing too. but water with salts is still not optimal, because it’s absorbed less efficiently (also i think cholera interferes with some of the other absorbtion paths?). then one day some guy discovered cotransport, and invented a rehydration solution with not just salts but also glucose. this simple discovery and resulting invention has saved millions of lives
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Oral_rehydration_therapy