High Prevalence of Dehydration and Inadequate Nutritional Knowledge Among University and Club Level Athletes

Abstract

Although dehydration of ≥ 2% body weight (BW) loss significantly impairs endurance performance, dehydration remains prevalent among athletes and may be owing to a lack of knowledge in relation to fluid requirements. The aim of this study was to assess the hydration status of university/club level athletes (n = 430) from a range of sports/activities (army officer cadet training; bootcamp training; cycling; Gaelic Athletic Association camogie, football and hurling; golf; hockey; netball; rugby; running (sprinting and endurance); Shotokan karate and soccer) immediately before and after training/competition and to assess their nutritional knowledge. Urine specific gravity (USG) was measured immediately before and after exercise and BW loss during exercise was assessed. Nutritional knowledge was assessed using a validated questionnaire. 31.9% of athletes commenced exercise in a dehydrated state (USG >1.020) with 43.6% of participants dehydrated posttraining/competition. Dehydration was particularly prevalent (>40% of cohort) among karateka, female netball players, army officer cadets, and golfers. Golfers that commenced a competitive 18 hole round dehydrated took a significantly higher number of strokes to complete the round in comparison with their euhydrated counterparts (79.5 ± 2.1 vs. 75.7 ± 3.9 strokes, p = .049). Nutritional knowledge was poor among participants (median total score [IQR]; 52.9% [46.0, 59.8]), albeit athletes who were euhydrated at the start of exercise had a higher overall score in comparison with dehydrated athletes (55.2% vs. 50.6%, p = .001). Findings from the current study, therefore, have significant implications for the education of athletes in relation to their individual fluid requirements around exercise.

Public knowledge of dehydration and fluid intake practices: variation by participants’ characteristics

“…The loss of body mass with no water intake is associated with poor memory and attention [7]. Studies have reported dehydration by 1–2%, impairs cognitive performance and impacts psychomotor and memory skills [8–11]. Fluid deficit of 4% decreases performance, causes headaches, irritability, sleepiness and increases respiratory rate with increase in temperature among children [12].…”

“…However, public awareness of dehydration is not widely assessed. The knowledge of dehydration is well documented among athletes [11, 15–18]. According to a survey conducted among dieticians, 76% had knowledge for dehydration definition and 55% had knowledge for water intake recommendation [19].…”

Proton density–weighted laryngeal magnetic resonance imaging in systemically dehydrated rats

“…13 In athletes, body weight loss >2% may impair performance and compromise function. 19,20 However, in a recent metaanalysis, Goulet 21 reported that reductions of up to 4% in body weight may not hinder endurance performance. A 10% decrease in body weight is a significant challenge, and although unlikely, in routine situations, was intentionally selected to provide direct evidence that systemic dehydration can change vocal fold tissue.…”

Low-Osmolality Carbohydrate–Electrolyte Solution Ingestion Avoid Fluid Loss and Oxidative Stress after Exhaustive Endurance Exercise

“…Validations of methods to monitor hydration status and the development of an appropriate individualized hydration strategy should be well informed [15]. Another survey study also revealed a high rate of insufficient knowledge regarding dehydration and nutrition among university and club-level athletes [24]. BW could be a useful index for degree of dehydration, and the fluid deficit during exercise was recommended to be limited to less than 2% of BW [2].…”