title: Ingestion of sodium plus water improves cardiovascular function and performance during dehydrating cycling in the heat.
abstract: We studied if salt and water ingestion alleviates the physiological strain caused by dehydrating exercise in the heat. Ten trained male cyclists (VO2max : 60 ± 7 mL/kg/min) completed three randomized trials in a hot-dry environment (33 °C, 30% rh, 2.5 m/s airflow). Ninety minutes before the exercise, participants ingested 10 mL of water/kg body mass either alone (CON trial) or with salt to result in concentrations of 82 or 164 mM Na(+) (ModNa(+) or HighNa(+) trial, respectively). Then, participants cycled at 63% of VO2 m ⁢ a x for 120 min immediately followed by a time-trial. After 120 min of exercise, the reduction in plasma volume was lessened with ModNa(+) and HighNa(+) trials (-11.9 ± 2.1 and -9.8 ± 4.2%) in comparison with CON (-16.4 ± 3.2%; P < 0.05). However, heat accumulation or dissipation (forearm skin blood flow and sweat rate) were not improved by salt ingestion. In contrast, both salt trials maintained cardiac output (∼ 1.3 ± 1.4 L/min; P < 0.05) and stroke volume (∼ 10 ± 11 mL/beat; P < 0.05) above CON after 120 min of exercise. Furthermore, the salt trials equally improved time-trial performance by 7.4% above CON (∼ 289 ± 42 vs 269 ± 50 W, respectively; P < 0.05). Our data suggest that pre-exercise ingestion of salt plus water maintains higher plasma volume during dehydrating exercise in the heat without thermoregulatory effects. However, it maintains cardiovascular function and improves cycling performance.
authors.affiliation: Exercise Physiology Laboratory, University of Castilla-La Mancha, Toledo, Spain.
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Hamouti
authors.forename: V E
authors.initials: VE
authors.lastname: Fernández-Elías
authors.forename: J F
authors.initials: JF
authors.lastname: Ortega
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Mora-Rodriguez
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D054874:Athletic Performance / Q000502:physiology*; D001642:Bicycling / Q000502:physiology*; D001833:Body Temperature Regulation / Q000187:drug effects; D003681:Dehydration / Q000209:etiology / Q000503:physiopathology* / Q000517:prevention & control; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D005542:Forearm / Q000098:blood supply; D006358:Hot Temperature / Q000009:adverse effects; D006801:Humans; D006813:Humidity / Q000009:adverse effects; D008297:Male; D010953:Plasma Volume / Q000187:drug effects*; D012039:Regional Blood Flow / Q000187:drug effects; D012867:Skin / Q000098:blood supply; D012964:Sodium / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D013318:Stroke Volume / Q000187:drug effects; D013546:Sweating / Q000187:drug effects; D014867:Water / Q000008:administration & dosage*
chemical_list: D014867:Water; D012964:Sodium