Search resultsBeer as a sports drink? Manipulating beer's ingredients to replace lost fluid
Title
Beer as a sports drink? Manipulating beer's ingredients to replace lost fluid
Publication type
Journal Article
Year of Publication
2013
Authors
Journal
International Journal of Sport Nutrition and Exercise Metabolism
Volume
23
Issue
6
Pagination
593 - 600
Date published
2013
ISBN
1526484X (ISSN)
Keywords
Adult, alcohol, Alcohol Drinking, article, beer, beverage, bicycle ergometer, body mass, Body Mass Index, controlled study, dehydration, Diuresis, Electrolytes, Exercise, Fluid balance, fluid intake, fluid therapy, food intake, human, human experiment, Humans, male, mustard gas, normal human, Oxygen Consumption, Questionnaires, Random Allocation, rehydration, social acceptance, sodium, sports drink, Sports Nutritional Physiological Phenomena, urinalysis, urine volume, Water-Electrolyte Balance
Abstract
Purpose: To investigate the effect of manipulating the alcohol and sodium content of beer on fluid restoration following exercise. Method: Seven male volunteers exercised on a cycle ergometer until 1.96 ± 0.25% body mass (mean± SD) was lost. Participants were then randomly allocated a different beer to consume on four separate occasions. Drinks included a low-alcohol beer (2.3% ABV; LightBeer), a low-alcohol beer with 25 mmol×L-1 of added sodium (LightBeer+25), a full-strength beer (4.8% ABV; Beer), or a full-strength beer with 25 mmol×L-1 of added sodium (Beer+25). Volumes consumed were equivalent to 150% of body mass loss during exercise and were consumed over a 1h period. Body mass and urine samples were obtained before and hourly for 4 hr after beverage consumption. Results: Significantly enhanced net fluid balance was achieved following the LightBeer+25 trial (-1.02 ± 0.35 kg) compared with the Beer (-1.59 ± 0.32 kg) and Beer+25 (-1.64 ± 0.28 kg) treatments. Accumulated urine output was significantly lower in the LightBeer+25 trial (1477 ± 485 ml) compared with the Beer+25 (2101 ± 482 ml) and Beer (2175 ± 372 ml) trials. Conclusion: A low alcohol beer with added sodium offers a potential compromise between a beverage with high social acceptance and one which avoids the exacerbated fluid losses observed when consuming full strength beer.