Sweat And Hydration Issues Examined In Recently Released Journal Supplement

Main Category: Sports Medicine / Fitness
Article Date: 28 Jul 2008 - 3:00 PDT

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A new supplement focusing on the vital importance of sodium in maintaining voluntary drinking, plasma sodium concentration, vascular volume, total body water, and cardiovascular function during rest and physical activity has been made available with the July/August 2008 issue of Current Sports Medicine Reports, the official clinical review journal of the American College of Sports Medicine (ACSM).

The supplement was produced as a result of a meeting of international scientists and clinicians in conjunction with the Gatorade Sports Science Institute (GSSI). Experts on hydration and exercise came together to examine issues related to sodium balance in athletes and other individuals who may regularly experience large sweat sodium losses.

"Water lost during exercise-induced sweating can lead to dehydration," said ACSM past president W. Larry Kenney, Ph.D., FACSM. "Even a small amount of dehydration can increase cardiovascular strain and increases the probability for impairing exercise performance and developing heat injury."

The eight articles, based on the proceedings of the GSSI meeting, are as follows:

- "Sodium Regulation in the Human Body"
- "Acute Effects of Sodium Ingestion on Thirst and Cardiovascular Function"
- "Fluid Balance and Dysnatremias in Athletes"
- "Exertional Heat Illness and Hyponatremia: An Epidemiological Prospective"
- "Strategies to Prevent Hyponatremia During Prolonged Exercise"
- "Genetic and other Determinants of Sweat Sodium"
- "Intravenous versus Oral Rehydration: Physiological, Performance, and Legal Considerations"
- "Muscle Cramps during Exercise-Is It Fatigue or Electrolyte Deficit?"

The American College of Sports Medicine is the largest sports medicine and exercise science organization in the world. More than 20,000 international, national, and regional members are dedicated to advancing and integrating scientific research to provide educational and practical applications of exercise science and sports medicine.

Note: Current Sports Medicine Reports is the official clinical review journal of the American College of Sports Medicine, and is available from Lippincott Williams & Wilkins at 1-800-638-6423. For a complete copy of the supplement (Vol. 7, No. 4, pages S1-S55) or to speak with a leading sports medicine expert on the topic, contact the Department of Communications and Public Information at 317-637-9200 ext. 127 or 133. Visit ACSM online at http://www.acsm.org.

The conclusions outlined in this news release are those of the researchers only, and should not be construed as an official statement of the American College of Sports Medicine.

American College of Sports Medicine