Hydration status and the differences between perceived beverage consumption and objective hydration status indicator in the Czech elite deaf athletes

Abstract

Background: Although there is a well documented negative effect of dehydration on exercise performance, athletes commonly start their exercise inadequately hydrated. This fact suggests that athletes do not adequately replenish their fluids and we can also speculate that they are unable to properly estimate their beverage intake. Objective: To evaluate the hydration status, the beverage intake, and differences between perceived adequate fluid intake and laboratory indicator of hydration status in elite deaf athletes. Methods: It was a cross-sectional study. The research group consisted of 62 male athletes organized in the Czech Deaf Sports Federation at the age of 25.8 ± 8.3 years. Urine specific gravity (USG) was an indicator of hydration status. Beverage consumption and its subjective evaluation were questioned. Results: The prevalence of inadequate hydration was 54%, athletes reported common beverage intake 2.2 ± 0.9 L, plus 1.0 ± 0.5 L in relation to their practice. A negative correlation was revealed between beverages daily intake and USG (r = -.51, p < .001). Fifteen (24%) athletes assessed their beverage consumption as very good, 43 (69%) as good, and only 4 (6%) as poor. There was no significant (p = .950, η2 = .002) association between perceived beverage consumption and USG. Conclusions: The majority of athletes was dehydrated based on their first morning urine sample. Athletes failed to subjectively evaluate their beverage consumption and perceived it as better than what the objective laboratory indicator (USG) showed.