Abstract
BackgroundIn cases of dehydration exceeding a 2% loss of body weight, athletic performance can be significantly compromised. Carbohydrate and/or electrolyte containing beverages have been effective for rehydration and recovery of performance, yet amino acid containing beverages remain unexamined. Therefore, the purpose of this study is to compare the rehydration capabilities of an electrolyte-carbohydrate (EC), electrolyte-branched chain amino acid (EA), and flavored water (FW) beverages.MethodsTwenty men (n = 10; 26.7 ± 4.8 years; 174.3 ± 6.4 cm; 74.2 ± 10.9 kg) and women (n = 10; 27.1 ± 4.7 years; 175.3 ± 7.9 cm; 71.0 ± 6.5 kg) participated in this crossover study. For each trial, subjects were dehydrated, provided one of three random beverages, and monitored for the following three hours. Measurements were collected prior to and immediately after dehydration and 4 hours after dehydration (3 hours after rehydration) (AE = −2.5 ± 0.55%; CE = −2.2 ± 0.43%; FW = −2.5 ± 0.62%). Measurements collected at each time point were urine volume, urine specific gravity, drink volume, and fluid retention.ResultsNo significant differences (p > 0.05) existed between beverages for urine volume, drink volume, or fluid retention for any time-point. Treatment x time interactions existed for urine specific gravity (USG) (p < 0.05). Post hoc analysis revealed differences occurred between the FW and EA beverages (p = 0.003) and between the EC and EA beverages (p = 0.007) at 4 hours after rehydration. Wherein, EA USG returned to baseline at 4 hours post-dehydration (mean difference from pre to 4 hours post-dehydration = -0.0002; p > 0.05) while both EC (-0.0067) and FW (-0.0051) continued to produce dilute urine and failed to return to baseline at the same time-point (p < 0.05).ConclusionBecause no differences existed for fluid retention, urine or drink volume at any time point, yet USG returned to baseline during the EA trial, an EA supplement may enhance cellular rehydration rate compared to an EC or FW beverage in healthy men and women after acute dehydration of around 2% body mass loss.
Highlights
In cases of dehydration exceeding a 2% loss of body weight, athletic performance can be significantly compromised
Based on the urine specific gravity (USG) results, it is hypothesized that if urine volumes were collected beyond 4 hours post-dehydration (3 hours post rehydration) that both carbohydrate- electrolyte (CE) and flavored water (FW) would have resulted in greater urine volumes compared to a BCAA-electrolyte (AE) and USG would eventually return to baseline
Overall, there appears to be a potential benefit of a branched chain amino acids (BCAA) and/or potassium containing beverage on intracellular hydration
Summary
In cases of dehydration exceeding a 2% loss of body weight, athletic performance can be significantly compromised. In conditions of elevated body temperature, the body can dissipate heat through either convection, conduction, radiation, or evaporation. The effectiveness of convection and conduction decreases and radiation becomes insignificant [1,2]. This creates a concomitant increase in dissipation through evaporation, accounting for up to 98% of cooling [1]. In a study by Armstrong et al [4], competitive runners were tested in time trials of varying distances as well as time to exhaustion under conditions of hydration and dehydration in a crossover design. While athletes may adequately recover fluids lost with multiple days separating exercise sessions, those who partake in practice or competition daily or twice-per-day must utilize strategies to recover fluids lost as soon as possible after an exercise bout
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