POSTEXERCISE REHYDRATION IN MAN - EFFECTS OF VOLUME CONSUMED AND DRINK SODIUM CONTENT

The interaction between the volume and composition of fluids ingested was investigated in terms of rehydration effectiveness. Twelve male vo lunteers, dehydrated by 2.06 +/- 0.02% (mean +/- SE) of body mass by i ntermittent cycle exercise, consumed a different drink volume on four separate weeks; six subjects received drink L (23 mmol . l(-1) Na+) in each trial and six were given drink H (61 mmol . l(-1) Na+). Volumes consumed were equivalent to 50%, 100%, 150%, and 200% of body mass los s (trials A, B, C, and D, respectively), Blood and urine samples were obtained before exercise and fur 7.5 h after exercise. Less urine was excreted following rehydration in trial A than in all other trials. Cu mulative urine output (median ml) was less in trial B (493, range 181- 731) than D (1361, range 1014-1484), which was not different from tria l C (867, range 263-1191) in group L. In group H, the volume excreted in trial B (260, range 137-376) was less than trials C (602, range 350 -994) and D (1001, range 714-1425), and the volume in trial C was less than in trial D. These results suggest that both sodium concentration and fluid volume consumed interact to affect the rehydration process. A drink volume greater than sweat loss during exercise must be ingest ed to restore fluid balance, but unless the sodium content of the beve rage is sufficiently high this will merely result in an increased urin ary output.