Current guidelines from the American College of Sports Medicine recommend marathon runners drink ad libitum from 0.4 – 0.8 L.h-1, with consideration of running speed, body weight, and environment [9]. Our check details results suggest that sodium supplements will affect an athlete’s ad libitum fluid intake by almost 0.2 L.h-1 during a similar exercise duration. This additional fluid consumption will add weight to elite athletes
who aim to maximise a power-to-weight ratio during competition, with no additional performance benefit. This has not been investigated, but it is reasonable to conclude the effect of increased thirst among athletes consuming sodium supplements provides no benefit in a cool environment. Although not statistically significant it is interesting
to note the 0.2 L.h-1 lower sweat rate with the sodium supplementation this is in line with previous studies [21, 22]. This merits further investigation with larger sample size to determine if sodium supplementation negatively effects thermoregulation by increasing plasma BAY 11-7082 in vitro osmolality and thus reducing sweat rate and increasing core temperature. Limitations As temperature influences both sweat rates and fluid intakes, www.selleckchem.com/products/AZD8931.html which in turn could affect blood sodium concentrations, the cold temperatures in the present study were not ideal. However, between trials there was little difference in the temperature or relative humidity and thus we are able to show the effects of sodium supplementation in mildly cold environments. Future research should investigate the effects of sodium ingestion during exercise in the heat. Conclusion Sodium supplementation had no effect on performance or plasma [Na+] during a 72 km cycling time-trial in mildly-cold conditions, however it did appear to influence fluid intake. Well-designed cross-over studies in conditions that would induce larger sweat sodium
losses would add constructive evidence in order to provide some practical recommendations for sodium supplementation during endurance sport. Acknowledgements The authors would like to thank Ms Michelle Harper and Mr Ashley Duncan for their assistance in analysing the sweat samples and Ms Anna Howe and Ms Cepharanthine Nicole Walker for their assistance with data collection. Additionally we would like to thank the University of Otago who funded this project. References 1. Criswell D, Renshler K, Powers SK, Tulley R, Cicale M, Wheeler K: Fluid replacement beverages and maintenance of plasma-volume during exercise – role of aldosterone and vasopressin. Eur J Appl Physiol Occup Physiol 1992, 65:445–451.PubMedCrossRef 2. Sanders B, Noakes TD, Dennis SC: Sodium replacement and fluid shifts during prolonged exercise in humans. Eur J Appl Physiol 2001, 84:419–425.PubMedCrossRef 3. Haussinger D, Lang F, Gerok W: Regulation of cell function by the cellular hydration state. Am J Physiol 1994, 267:E343-E355.PubMed 4.