Post-exercise Rehydration: A Randomised Cross-over Trial Comparing a 100% Fruit Beverage, a Glucose-based Sports Drink, and Water

NCT07468539 | Completed

• 1 other identifier: 1911625
• Study Type: interventional
• Target: 17
• Locations: 1 country
• Sites: 1

Brief Summary

It is well-established that exercise has many health benefits. During exercise in temperate/hot conditions, sweating is necessary to dissipate heat. This sweating typically results in dehydration, which may impair physical and mental performance. Therefore, following exercise, effective rehydration is important to restore an optimal hydration state and therefore physical and mental performance. If an individual only rehydrates with water, though, it is unlikely that they will fully rehydrate as plain water is not very well-retained by the body, due to its lack of carbohydrate and electrolytes. For this reason, sports/ hydration drinks are likely to aid in better rehydration, due to their carbohydrate and electrolyte content. This project aims to compare the rehydration effectiveness and glucose responses to two sports / hydration drinks and water (with different carbohydrate and electrolyte contents).

Conditions

Dehydration

Outcome Measures

Primary Outcomes (4)

• Net water Balance

  (\[post-exercise body mass (kg) - Pre-exercise body mass (kg)\] x 1000) + water volume consumed (g) - cumulative urine output during rehydration period (g)

  Baseline (pre-exercise), post-exercise, and 0, 1, 2, 3, and 4 h post-rehydration

• Cumulative urine volume

  0, 1, 2, 3, and 4 h post-rehydration

• Total urine volume

  Total urine volume produced during the rehydration period

  Sum of urine produced at 0, 1, 2, 3, and 4 h post-rehydration

• Water retention

  (\[water volume consumed (g) - total urine volume produced during the rehydration period (g)\] / water volume consumed (g)) x 100

  4 h post-rehydration

Secondary Outcomes (15)

• Blood glucose concentration

  Baseline (pre-exercise), post-exercise, and 0, 0.25, 0.5, 0.75, 1, 1.5, and 2 h post-rehydration

• Blood glucose area under the curve

  The 2h period following rehydration

• Hyperglycaemia incidence

  The 2 h period following rehydration

• Hypoglycaemia incidence

  The 2 h period following rehydration

• Urine osmolality

  Baseline (pre-exercise), post-exercise, and 0, 1, 2, 3, and 4 h post-rehydration

Study Arms (3)

Water

EXPERIMENTAL

Consumption of a water volume (from water) equal to 150% of body mass loses from exercise-induced hypohydration

Other: Water

Glucose-based sports drink

EXPERIMENTAL

Consumption of a water volume (from a glucose-based sports drink) equal to 150% of body mass loses from exercise-induced hypohydration

Other: Glucose-based sports drink

Fruit beverage

EXPERIMENTAL

Consumption of a water volume (from a fruit beverage) equal to 150% of body mass loses from exercise-induced hypohydration

Other: Fruit beverage

Interventions

Fruit beverage OTHER

Consumption of a water volume (from a fruit beverage) equal to 150% of body mass loses from exercise-induced hypohydration

Fruit beverage

Water OTHER

Consumption of a water volume (from water) equal to 150% of body mass loses from exercise-induced hypohydration

Water

Glucose-based sports drink OTHER

Consumption of a water volume (from a glucose-based sports drink) equal to 150% of body mass loses from exercise-induced hypohydration

Glucose-based sports drink

Eligibility Criteria

• Age: 18 Years - 50 Years
• Sex: all
• Healthy Volunteers: Yes
• Age Groups: Adult (18-64)

You may qualify if:

• \- Training/performing \> 1 hrs a week

You may not qualify if:

• Smoker.
• Pregnant, attempting to become pregnant, or breastfeeding.
• Diabetic.
• You have adverse events/reactions in response to fingertip capillary blood sampling which includes, but is not limited to; fainting and/or serious bruising.
• History of heat-related illness.
• History of heart failure, pulmonary hypertension, embolism, or other pulmonary heart disease.
• Previously diagnosed with COPD, emphysema, bronchitis or similar respiratory illness.
• Have a history of severe allergic reactions.
• History of kidney issues.
• Regular use of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory medications.
• Any other medical conditions / medications that may interfere with an individuals ability to safely perform exercise in the heat and experience dehydration.
• Allergies/intolerances to any of the following ingredients: Glucose Syrup, Acid (Citric Acid), Acidity Regulator (Sodium Citrate), Extract of Black Carrot, Watermelon, pomegranate, lime, Preservatives (Potassium Sorbate, Dimethyl Dicarbonate), Stabilisers (Acacia Gum), Sweeteners (Aspartame, Acesulfame K), Antioxidant (Ascorbic Acid), Flavourings, Niacin (Vitamin B3).
• Elite athlete subject to doping tests

Sponsors & Collaborators

• Nottingham Trent University: lead
• Innate-Essence Limited: collaborator

Study Sites (1)

Nottingham Trent University, Clifton Campus

Nottingham, NG11 8NS, United Kingdom

Location

MeSH Terms

Conditions

Dehydration

Interventions

Water

Condition Hierarchy (Ancestors)

Water-Electrolyte Imbalance; Metabolic Diseases; Nutritional and Metabolic Diseases; Pathologic Processes; Pathological Conditions, Signs and Symptoms

Intervention Hierarchy (Ancestors)

Hydroxides; Alkalies; Inorganic Chemicals; Anions; Ions; Electrolytes; Oxides; Oxygen Compounds

Study Design

• Study Type: interventional
• Phase: not applicable
• Allocation: RANDOMIZED
• Masking: NONE
• Purpose: BASIC SCIENCE
• Intervention Model: CROSSOVER
• Sponsor Type: OTHER
• Responsible Party: PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR
• PI Title: Lead Research Scientist

Study Record Dates

• First Submitted: March 3, 2026
• First Posted: March 12, 2026
• Study Start: November 8, 2024
• Primary Completion: May 22, 2025
• Study Completion: May 22, 2025
• Last Updated: March 12, 2026

Record last verified: 2026-03

Data Sharing

• IPD Sharing: Will not share

Locations

GB (1)