Final answer:
Glucose is added to Oral Rehydration Therapy (ORT) to enhance the absorption of water and electrolytes, promoting rehydration and restoring fluid balance. It creates an osmotic gradient that facilitates the movement of water and sodium from the intestines into the bloodstream. Glucose also helps enhance the uptake of sodium in the small intestine through co-transporters.
Step-by-step explanation:
Glucose is added to Oral Rehydration Therapy (ORT) because it helps improve the absorption of water and electrolytes in the intestines. ORT is used to treat dehydration caused by conditions such as diarrhea, vomiting, or excessive sweating. Glucose is a type of sugar that provides energy to the body and helps enhance the absorption of sodium and water in the small intestine.
When glucose is present in the intestines, it creates an osmotic gradient that drives the movement of both water and sodium from the intestines into the bloodstream. This helps restore the body's hydration levels. Additionally, glucose is necessary for the uptake of sodium through the sodium-glucose co-transporters in the small intestine.
By adding glucose to ORT, the therapy becomes more effective in treating dehydration by increasing the absorption of water and electrolytes, promoting rehydration and restoring the body's fluid balance.