Drink composition, voluntary

drinking, and fluid

balance in exercising, trained, heat-
acclimatized boys
 ANITA M. RIVERA-BROWN,1 RANDALL GUTIE RREZ,1 JUAN CARLOS GUTIE RREZ,1
WALTER R. FRONTERA,2 AND ODED BAR-OR3
1Department of Physical Medicine, Rehabilitation and Sports Medicine, Center for
Sports Health
and Exercise Sciences at the Albergue Olmpico, University of Puerto Rico School of
Medicine,
Salinas, Puerto Rico 00751; 2Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation,
Harvard
Medical School and Spaulding Rehabilitation Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts 02114-
1198;
and 3Childrens Exercise and Nutrition Centre, McMaster University,
Hamilton, Ontario, Canada L8N 3Z5
 THE AIM
the purpose of this study was to examine the
effects of beverage flavoring and composition
on voluntary drinking pattern, body fluid
balance, and thermoregulation in trained,
heat-acclimatized children indigenous to a
tropical climate during prolonged intermittent
exercise in hot outdoor conditions.
 METHOD
Time and location :
Sekolah dasar, residents of Puerto Rico
 METHOD
Research design:
Each boy served as his own control
Samples:
Twelve healthy 11- to 14-yr-old trained
children
Subjects had three preparatory sessions and
two xperimental sessions
 KEY RESULTS
1. Climatic Heat Stress
2. Body Fluid Balance
3. Thermoregulatory Responses
 DISCUSION
1. ad libitum drinking of a flavored 6%
carbohydrate and 18 mmol/l NaCl solution
resulted in an increase in intake of 32%
compared with water in trained
heatacclimatized boys exercising in a tropical
climate
2. the flavored carbohydrate-electrolyte solution
prevented voluntary dehydration in these boys
who exhibited high sweating rates when
exercising in a tropical climate.
 CONCLUSSION
simulate these conditions in a climatic chamber, and therefore very
little is known about childrens drinking patterns, body fluid
balances, and thermoregulatory responses when they are exercising
in outdoor conditions under direct sunlight.
Children have a greater body surface area-to-mass ratio and will
absorb heat faster than do adults from the environment in hot
climates when ambient temperature exceeds
Thus a high level of solar radiation can be more detrimental to
children than to adults. The former may be more susceptible to
thermoregulatory disorders.
In conclusion, a carbohydrate-electrolyte solution may be
recommended to prevent voluntary dehydration in heat-
acclimatized boys who participate in structured training programs
and exhibit very high sweating rates when exercising in a tropical
climate.