Published online Mar 7, 2016. doi: 10.3748/wjg.v22.i9.2711
Peer-review started: October 14, 2015
First decision: November 13, 2015
Revised: November 18, 2015
Accepted: December 8, 2015
Article in press: December 8, 2015
Published online: March 7, 2016
Processing time: 141 Days and 4.2 Hours
Core tip: Diarrheal disease remains a leading cause of death in children and the elderly throughout the world. The cause of death is dehydration secondary to severe diarrhea. Intestinal calcium-sensing receptor (CaSR) is a newly uncovered ancient antidiarrheal receptor system that appears to exert profound effects not only on intestinal secretion, absorption and motility but also on gut permeability and inflammatory responses. Activating this unusual machinery reverses pathophysiological changes of both secretory and inflammatory diarrheas. Considering its unique property of using simple nutrients as activators, it is now possible that through targeting of CaSR and developing novel oral rehydrating solutions that are inexpensive and practical to use in all countries, these diarrhea-associated deaths are reduced or eliminated.