Mendoza, J. R., Lambert, G. P. Summers, R. W., & Gisolfi, C. V. (2000). Effects of a low-carbohydrate sports drink on gastric emptying and intestinal fluid absorption during exercise. Medicine and Science in Sports and Exercise, 32(5), Supplement abstract 1144.

This study compared the common practice of diluting Gatorade sports drink to 3% with a standard 6% solution for gastric emptying and intestinal water flux during 85-min cycle ergometry at 60% VO2max. Ss (N = 5) performed under three conditions (two solutions and a water placebo).

Various physiological measures, gastric emptying rate, and average times for a three-mile time trial were not significantly different. The 3% solution produced a significantly lower osmolallilty.

Implication. Diluting Gatorade for in-performance ingestion yields no physiological or performance benefits.

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