The Effect of Ingestion of Beverages or Meal That Contains Electrolytes Prior to Exercise - Research Paper Example

The Effect of Ingestion of Beverages or Meal That Contains Electrolytes Prior to Exercise Introduction The aim of the article is to study the effect of ingestion of beverages or meal that contains electrolytes prior to exercise on body fluid balance and urine output. The research objective is to determine the effect of consumption of sodium-containing beverage and meal before exercising and its subsequent effect on thirst condition, fluid balance and urinary water loss in both men and women. Analysis The article “Effect of Preexercise Electrolyte Ingestion on Fluid Balance in Men and Women” is a research study that aims to find out the effect of consumption of electrolyte containing beverage or meals before exercise on water intake, total fluid balance in the body and water loss through urine output compared to only water intake prior to exercise. Commercially available carbohydrate-electrolyte beverage and chicken noodle soup were used in the study. The purpose of the article is well defined and the study population includes both men and women as participant’s hence eliminating gender bias and the response of both men and women towards intake of electrolytes prior to exercise would be determined. Abstract The abstract provides a complete summary of the study method, participants, methodology, results and the conclusion. The study limitations have not been identified in the abstract. Introduction of the article The introduction explains the importance of preexercise hydration status and states that this aspect is mostly neglected in the guidelines set by the American College of Sports Medicine. The authors believe that body fluid balance will greatly aid in the performance and endurance levels. It further states that research carried out using consumption of water alone has not yielded any beneficial result and it only increased urine output during exercise. The authors of the present study have ascertained, after conducting laboratory investigation, that intake of high sodium containing beverage or meal before exercise speeds up the recovery of plasma volume and also increase water retention within the body by decreasing urinary output. The article also cites previous research studies in which consumption of electrolyte containing beverages, especially those rich in sodium, both before and after exercising have improved body fluid balance and also aided in preventing excessive water loss through urine. However previous studies had not related water intake with the consumption of sodium rich beverages. The present study proposed to determine that fluid balance could be maintained by increasing the ad libitum water intake and reducing water loss through urine upon consumption of sodium rich beverages and meals before exercise. It hypothesized that consumption of chicken noodle soup 45 minutes before exercise would improve fluid balance by increasing water intake and reducing urine output while no considerable improvement was expected after consumption of water alone and carbohydrate-electrolyte beverages. The authors also expected the responses in both men and women to be similar. The population sampling and methods to be used have not been elaborated in the introduction. Literature review Majority of the literature reviewed for the study is from primary sources and secondary sources have also been cited. The primary sources are studies that have also explored the effects of fluid intake during or after exercise. Most of the references were from recent journals and they did help to understand the aims of the present study more precisely. The present study only includes the effect of ad libitum water intake which has not dealt with in the previous studies and apart from which there is no other novel concept that it proposes to study. There is no cause and effect that has been explained but the present study hypothesizes that consumption of chicken noodle soup 45 minutes before exercise would bring out the desired effects compared to consumption of water alone or a carbohydrate-electrolyte beverage. The study also hypothesized that the expected responses would be similar in both the sexes. Method The study compared the effects of consumption of three beverages, chicken noodle soup, carbohydrate-electrolyte beverage and plain water on the body fluid balance, urine output and ad libitum water intake during exercise among 20 college-aged participants. Three randomized and counterbalanced trials were conducted with an interval of 1 week between each trial. Each trial differed from the other with respect to the beverage consumed. One male participant withdrew after two trials and as his data could not be completely correlated and his data was removed from the trial. Hence an equal representation of men and women participants could not be cited. The parameters tested during the three separate trials are sufficient to compare and determine how the consumption of different beverages before exercise affects total fluid balance of the body and urinary output. The weight, height, body mass, blood samples, amount of water consumed at regular intervals and the expiratory gases exhaled were all measured and recorded. All the participants were made to consume equal quantities of the specified beverage and the measurements were taken. The participants then performed steady-state exercises and a physical performance task (PPT) for 90 minutes and 30 minutes respectively. The thirst levels, body temperature and blood samples were taken for analysis at regular intervals during the exercise phase. The amount of water consumed and timing were also recorded. All the data collected were comparable and appropriate. The methods employed allowed for good statistical correlation. Data Collection The equipments employed for recording data have been described appropriately. Cycle ergometers were used to measure the peak oxygen uptake levels and oxygen and carbon dioxide analyzers were used to measure the respiratory gases. A rectal thermometer along with a HR monitor was used to record the body temperature and body mass. The blood samples were analyzed for hemoglobin and hematocrit concentrations using spectrometry and centrifugation techniques. The plasma was then separated from the blood by centrifugation and the osmolality of the plasma and the urine samples was measured using vapor pressure osmometry and sodium concentration by flame photometry. The plasma glucose concentration was determined using enzyme spectrophotometric analyses. The gravity of the urine samples was determined using a spectral refractometry. Reliable methods have been used to collect data. Procedure The study was approved by the review board in the Iowa State University. Informed consent explaining the protocol was signed by the participants followed by preliminary testing procedures in which the weight, height, body mass and peak oxygen uptake after an exercise test were determined. The medical history of the participants was also reviewed. The participants were asked to void and their perceived thirst was noted before the start of the trial. After recording their nude body mass, basal body temperature and taking blood samples for analysis, they were given the experimental beverage and were asked to rest for 45 minutes. After resting another blood sample was drawn for testing following which the participants exercised at steady-state for 90 minutes and a blood sample was drawn at the end of every 30 minutes. Their thirst levels and body temperature were also recorded. The metabolic stress at the end of every 30 minutes was recorded by measuring the expiratory gas levels. The mass of the water consumed and the timing of water consumption were also noted and the participants were blinded to this information. After the 90 minute steady-state task the body mass of the participants was noted. They were then made to perform PPT for 30 minutes and the time taken by every participant and the amount of water consumed was recorded. At the end of the tasks the nude body mass and the total urine output were noted. The blood samples collected at regular intervals were analyzed for hemoglobin and hematocrit concentrations. And the osmolality of both the plasma and urine samples were determined. The plasma sodium, glucose levels and the gravity of the urine samples were also measured using appropriate equipments. In order to minimize sample bias all the experiments were carried out in duplicates. All the participants were subjected to the same exercises and to ensure consistency of the metabolic stress in each individual the expiratory gas levels were measured at regular intervals. Results Appropriate equations and statistical analysis were used for data analysis. The fluid balance was calculated using the body mass determined before and after the exercise and before urination and the total urine mass determined after the physical test. Using the total water ingested and the total urine mass the percentage of water retained by the body caused by the consumption of the beverages was calculated. Pre and post-body mass readings were used to calculate the percent dehydration after the metabolic phase of exercise and fluid balance of the body which in turn determine the effectiveness of the beverages. The total loss due to evaporation was calculated using the total fluid ingested and the body mass after calculating for urine volume. And as the evaporative loss due to respiration and sweat is influenced by body surface area (BSA) the total loss was also adjusted for the BSA. The statistical analysis was done using JMP 7.0.1 software and comparison of all the key variables obtained from the three trials were done by using one-way repeated measures (RM), ANOVA, and further analyses of some of the key variables was done using Turkey HSD post hoc analyses, mean and standard deviation. The statistical methods employed were appropriate for the study and care was taken to ensure the non-interference of unwanted variables by adjusting them during the calculation. Results The results were presented in an adequate manner and both graphical representations and tables were provided which enabled easy understanding of the study findings. The data collected before each trial were taken as study controls and the body mass, urine specific gravity and plasma osmolality were found to be consistent. The mean peak oxygen levels recorded after the steady-state exercise were also found to the similar in all the trials. The effectiveness of the beverages was determined after calculating the fluid balance and the total intake of water was increased by the consumption of the chicken noodle soup compared to the consumption of only water especially during the PPT. However the perception of thirst was found to be similar during all trials. The specific gravity of urine and the total retention of urine in the body were higher after ingestion of the soup compared with that of water. The sodium intake in the soup was also greater compared to water. The total evaporative loss through sweat and urine was also found to be similar in all the trials. While the fluid balance in the body was found to be better after ingestion of soup the effect of carbohydrate-electrolyte beverage on the same was found to be intermediate between water and soup consumption. However both water and the carbohydrate-electrolyte beverage did not significantly help to prevent the reduction of fluid balance. In addition to fluid balance, soup ingestion also increased the osmolality of plasma persistently throughout the exercise regimen. The plasma volume was, however, found to be similar in all the trials. The changes in the plasma glucose levels were similar in all trials. The amount of work during the PPT differed between men and women. The time calculated while performing the tasks was independent of the beverage consumed and the participants were blinded for the time taken. While the total amount of water intake by men was comparatively more the urine output was similar in case of men and women, the amount of water retained was more in men than women. Women were also found to have lower evaporative losses and the response to fluid balance was similar in both the cases. The findings have been well explained and the study objective achieved. Discussion The aim of the study was to determine which beverage would enable a better fluid balance in the body when consumed prior to exercise leading to better performance and improved water intake by the individual. Of the three beverages a better fluid balance was observed during ingestion of chicken noodle soup in both men and woman. Additionally the intake of ad libitum water intake also increased but the women participants lost more water due to increased urine output compared to men. Better fluid balance and increased intake of water by men were not observed in the other two trials. Hence this study proves the hypothesis that consumption of sodium rich beverages or meals prior to exercise may help in better fluid balance by prolonging the onset of critical dehydration which may occur during long periods of exercise. They work by increasing the ad libitum water intake and thus maintain the body in a hydrated state. The water intake during ingestion of the soup was consistent during both the steady-state and PPT while the other two fluids only increased water intake during PPT. A further understanding of the reason for such increased water intake during soup ingestion has been linked to soup temperature, flavor and electrolyte composition as determined by previous trials. In all the previous studies the presence of increased sodium in the beverages consumed during exercises resulted in an increased fluid intake resulting in better overall fluid balance. But the previous studies never correlated fluid balance with the ad libitum water intake by the individual. The present study has however revealed that 90% of increased fluid balance in the body is due to intake of water. The water consumed serves to replenish the water that is lost through evaporation or urine thus maintaining the total fluid within the body and aiding in better performance. While the perception of thirst by the participants was similar in every trial, better water intake was observed only when the soup was ingested leading to the assumption that the ingredients in the soup altered a physiological point related to the thirst center thereby attenuating water intake to quench the thirst. Additionally, as noted in previous studies, fluid balance during exercise after consumption of sodium rich beverages also helps to prevent water loss from the body through urinary output. The specific gravity and osmolality of the urine also increased without any increase in sodium output. These findings have been related, in previous studies, to the increase in plasma osmolality. However the present study noted that the increase in plasma osmolality was independent of plasma sodium content. But the soup contains a high concentration of sodium. Two possible explanations for the increased plasma osmolality independent of plasma sodium levels have been provided by the authors: increased concentration of carbohydrate, fat and protein in the soup increases the plasma osmolality or the interstitial water from the GI tract would have flown into lumen increasing the osmolality after soup ingestion. However, similar plasma volumes observed in all the trials presents a confounding factor which needs to be clarified. The study also notes that despite the differences in the evaporative and urine losses between men and women ingestion of the chicken noodle soup has shown similar results with respect to fluid balance in all the individuals. Implications/recommendations While the objective of the study has been achieved, the authors have nevertheless identified certain limitations associated with the study. There was no control taken for menstrual cycle for women and hence the effect of the length of the cycle in every woman could not be ascertained. Additionally, the effects of other micro and macronutrients, apart from sodium, present in the soup were not determined. The participants were not allowed to urinate between the steady-state exercise and the start of the PPT and hence fluid balance during this period could not be ascertained. The normal water gain in the body due to other metabolic processes or loss of body mass due to substrate utilization as carbon dioxide have also not been accounted. However, the authors maintain that while the objectives of the present study have been realized the limitations could be incorporated in future studies and an overall perspective could be gleaned. Conclusion of Article The conclusion of the article does reiterate the key objectives of the study and ascertains that when compared to water and carbohydrate-electrolyte beverages, ingestion of chicken-noodle soup prior to exercise results in better fluid balance by increasing water intake and reducing water loss through urine. It provides a sufficient reflection of the study. Assignment conclusion The article is clear with its initial hypothesis, the methods used and calculation of results. The presentation of results was also clear. However it could have used other sodium rich beverages. That would have helped to possibly determine the relationship between plasma osmolality and sodium concentrations. And as mentioned in the conclusion of the article the study population could have been more and could have included people containing higher body water and their subsequent hydration status ascertained after similar experiments. References Johannsen et al. (2009). Effect of Preexercise Electrolyte Ingestion on Fluid Balance in Men and Women. Official Journal of the American College of Sports Medicine. 2017-2024. Read More