Ice slurry ingestion increases core temperature capacity and running time in the heat.
OBJECTIVE
To investigate the effect of ice slurry ingestion on thermoregulatory responses and submaximal running time in the heat.


METHODS
On two separate occasions, in a counterbalanced order, 10 males ingested 7.5 g·kg(-1) of either ice slurry (-1°C) or cold water (4°C) before running to exhaustion at their first ventilatory threshold in a hot environment (34.0°C ± 0.2°C, 54.9% ± 5.9% relative humidity). Rectal and skin temperatures, HR, sweating rate, and ratings of thermal sensation and perceived exertion were measured.


RESULTS
Running time was longer (P = 0.001) after ice slurry (50.2 ± 8.5 min) versus cold water (40.7 ± 7.2 min) ingestion. Before running, rectal temperature dropped 0.66°C ± 0.14°C after ice slurry ingestion compared with 0.25°C ± 0.09°C (P = 0.001) with cold water and remained lower for the first 30 min of exercise. At exhaustion, however, rectal temperature was higher (P = 0.001) with ice slurry (39.36°C ± 0.41°C) versus cold water ingestion (39.05°C ± 0.37°C). During exercise, mean skin temperature was similar between conditions (P = 0.992), as was HR (P = 0.122) and sweat rate (P = 0.242). After ice slurry ingestion, subjects stored more heat during exercise (100.10 ± 25.00 vs 78.93 ± 20.52 W·m(-2), P = 0.005), and mean ratings of thermal sensation (P = 0.001) and perceived exertion (P = 0.022) were lower.


CONCLUSIONS
Compared with cold water, ice slurry ingestion lowered preexercise rectal temperature, increased submaximal endurance running time in the heat (+19% ± 6%), and allowed rectal temperature to become higher at exhaustion. As such, ice slurry ingestion may be an effective and practical precooling maneuver for athletes competing in hot environments.
Siegel
Rodney
R
School of Exercise, Biomedical and Health Sciences, Edith Cowan University, Joondalup, WA, Australia. r.siegel@ecu.edu.au
Maté
Joseph
J
Brearley
Matt B
MB
Watson
Greig
G
Nosaka
Kazunori
K
Laursen
Paul B
PB
D000328:Adult; D001831:Body Temperature / Q000502:physiology*; D001833:Body Temperature Regulation; D004326:Drinking; D006358:Hot Temperature; D006801:Humans; D007053:Ice; D008297:Male; D010807:Physical Endurance / Q000502:physiology*; D012420:Running / Q000502:physiology*; D055815:Young Adult
D007053:Ice