Kids Rehydration During Exercise (ROAR East)

Parents of adolescent children have demonstrated a preference to remove added and larger boluses of sugar from their child's diet in accordance with accumulating health concerns. While forms of sugar are often included in oral rehydration solutions, evidence demonstrates that electrolytes such as sodium are the predominant beverage ingredients contributing to rehydration. Determining the efficacy and preference when thirsty of a flavored water beverage (with lower sugar content), compared to plain water could guide future beverage selection to achieve rehydration in young people.

Protocol:

This is a randomized, counter-balanced, cross-over design study. Thirty participants will be voluntarily enrolled (defined as the completion of assent and successful screening). Upon enrollment, participants will be familiarized to the study procedures: exercise, dietary consumption, urine sample collection, body weight measurement, bioelectrical impedance spectroscopy (BIS) analysis, and perceptual questionnaire completion. Participants will be scheduled to complete two experimental visits within three weeks of one another. Each experimental visit is designed to examine the differentiating effects of one of two selected beverages (1) lower sugar flavored water beverage and 2) plain water) on certain hydration markers and related perceptual variables during repeated bouts of exercise.

Day Before study:

Participants will consume a standardized frozen dinner (provided by the researchers) and consume at least 250 ml (8oz) of water after dinner. Food and beverages other than water will be prohibited following dinner.