So how nessecary is your sports drink?

[Tapeworm]

Not very. At least the BMJ says so, and I tend to agree.

http://www.forbes.com/sites/larryhu...shock-and-awe-assault-on-sport-drink-science/

 

[JayKosta]

I will be reading those reports to determine what they 'actually say'.
It is important to understand WHO the conclusions apply to, and WHY the products are being used.
The conclusions might be different for -
a) general population, non-athelete usage
and
b) atheletes in endurance sports & training

Jay Kosta
Endwell NY USA

 

[FrankDay]

Not very. At least the BMJ says so, and I tend to agree.

http://www.forbes.com/sites/larryhu...shock-and-awe-assault-on-sport-drink-science/

Some of the thinking that leads to sports drinks is crazy, IMO. The problem is there are two areas that get depleted, inside the cell and outside the cell and these have completely different environments and mechanisms to replenish. There is no problem getting those electrolytes lost from the inside of the cell back into the cell after one stops exercising but there is a real problem getting it into the cell while still exercising. We evolved to do pretty well only needing water during sustained exercise. Salt does seem like an easy and obvious performance enhancement additive when combined with water. Everything else during exercise (except for calories during extremely long events) seems pretty iffy to me. The results of these studies, essentially showing no benefit to typical sports drinks, does not surprise me. If there is a benefit (over water and/or salt) it would have to be small and difficult to prove.

 

[JayKosta]

I read those 2 BMJopen articles and did not find them very informative.

The article about 'sports performance products' is about the 'type' of advertising and reference material that is presented by the makers of the products.
It does NOT address the actual efficacy of the products.

The article about 'sports drinks' is mostly an attack on the 'sport drink' industry and how the products are advertised and marketed.

Jay Kosta
Endwell NY USA

 

[Tapeworm]

Here's some more reading for you Jay.



http://www.bmj.com/content/345/bmj.e4737
http://bmjopen.bmj.com/content/2/4/e001702.full?ga=w_bmjj_bmj-com
http://www.bmj.com/content/345/bmj.e4868
http://www.bmj.com/content/345/bmj.e4753
http://www.bmj.com/content/345/bmj.e4171
http://www.bmj.com/content/345/bmj.e4797
http://www.bmj.com/content/345/bmj.e4848
http://www.bmj.com/content/345/bmj.e4682

 

[JayKosta]

Tapeworm,
thanks for the additional links, my comments follow...
-----

"To drink or not to drink to drink recommendations: the evidence"
http://www.bmj.com/content/345/bmj.e4868#xref-ref-9-1
The point of this article seems to be that it is NOT necessary to replace
fluid loss at a 'recommended level' in order to have high performance in
competition.
This might be true for infrequent competition events, but I am concerned
that it might cause some people to think that they can safely reduce their
fluid intake as a regular practice.
It would be helpful to know the recovery time and protocols needed by those
who lost a high percentage of body mass due to fluid loss.
-----

"Commentary: role of hydration in health and exercise"
http://www.bmj.com/content/345/bmj.e4171
This article concerns the negative effects of drinking too much water.
"A 2% increase in total body water produces generalised oedema that can impair athletic and mental performance; greater levels of overhydration result in
hyponatraemic encephalopathy— severe cerebral oedema that produces confusion, seizures, coma, and ultimately death from respiratory arrest".
It also mentions that
"There is barely any risk that dehydration can occur in healthy athletes competing in a modern endurance event in which ample fluid is available".
Presumably with the assumption that the athlete will 'drink to thirst' and not withhold water intake.
-----

"How valid is the European Food Safety Authority’s assessment of sports drinks?"
http://www.bmj.com/content/345/bmj.e4753
This article concerns the way that the EFSA does the assesment.
It DOES NOT address the efficacy of the actual sports drinks.
-----

"Miracle pills and fireproof trainers: user endorsement in social media"
http://www.bmj.com/content/345/bmj.e4682
Yes, there is a lot of 'snake oil', and misleading advertising - buyer beware.
-----

"Mythbusting sports and exercise products"
http://www.bmj.com/content/345/bmj.e4848
This article seems reasonable.
-----

"Forty years of sports performance research and little insight gained"
http://www.bmj.com/content/345/bmj.e4797
This article seems reasonable, but the results and conclusions should not be 'extrapolated' beyond the specifics that are actually addressed in the article.
-----

Jay Kosta
Endwell NY USA