Effect of varying the concentrations of carbohydrate and milk protein in rehydration solutions ingested after exercise in the heat.

• TITLE: Effect of varying the concentrations of carbohydrate and milk protein in rehydration solutions ingested after exercise in the heat.
• AUTHOR: James LJ, Evans GH, Madin J, Scott D, Stepney M, Harris R, Stone R, Clayton DJ.
• REFERENCE: Br J Nutr. 2013 May 31:1-7. [Epub ahead of print]
• YEAR: 2013

The present study investigated the relationship between the milk protein content of a rehydration solution and fluid balance after exercise-induced dehydration. On three occasions, eight healthy males were dehydrated to an identical degree of body mass loss (BML, approximately 1•8 %) by intermittent cycling in the heat, rehydrating with 150 % of their BML over 1 h with either a 60 g/l carbohydrate solution (C), a 40 g/l carbohydrate, 20 g/l milk protein solution (CP20) or a 20 g/l carbohydrate, 40 g/l milk protein solution (CP40). Urine samples were collected pre-exercise, post-exercise, post-rehydration and for a further 4 h. Subjects produced less urine after ingesting the CP20 or CP40 drink compared with the C drink (P< 0•01), and at the end of the study, more of the CP20 (59 (sd 12) %) and CP40 (64 (sd 6) %) drinks had been retained compared with the C drink  (46 (sd 9) %) (P< 0•01). At the end of the study, whole-body net fluid balance was more negative for trial C ( – 470 (sd 154) ml) compared with both trials CP20 ( – 181 (sd 280) ml) and CP40 ( – 107 (sd 126) ml) (P< 0•01). At 2 and 3 h after  drink ingestion, urine osmolality was greater for trials CP20 and CP40 compared with trial C (P< 0•05). The present study further demonstrates that after exercise-induced dehydration, a carbohydrate-milk protein solution is better retained than a carbohydrate solution. The results also suggest that high concentrations of milk protein are not more beneficial in terms of fluid retention than low concentrations of milk protein following exercise-induced dehydration.

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/23721750