Fai, H., Tsoi, S., Kuen, S., & Ng, R. (2013). Rehydration with lemon tea, carbohydrate-electrolyte beverage and water after exercise-induced dehydration under hot environment. Medicine & Science in Sports & Exercise, 45(5), Supplement abstract number 309.

This study compared the effectiveness of packed lemon tea with a carbohydrate-electrolyte drink and distilled water on whole-body fluid restoration during a 4-hour recovery period after moderate exercise-induced dehydration in hot environment. Male Ss (N = 10) underwent three main trials. Ss ran on treadmill for 60 minutes at 60% maximum heart rate hot conditions (~29ºC and ~71% relative humidity). After exercise, Ss stayed at the same thermal condition for four hours of recovery where one of the drinks (lemon tea, carbohydrate-electrolyte, distilled water) was randomly assigned for ingestion. No other food was allowed during recovery. Six equal portions of the given drinks representing a total of 150% of body-weight loss were taken at 30, 60, 90, 120, 150, and 180 minutes of recovery. Blood samples were taken pre- and post-exercise. Blood samples and urine outputs were also collected at 30-minute intervals throughout recovery. Abdominal discomfort and stomach fullness were assessed five minutes prior to each blood sample collection.

After the 60-minute run, Ss lost ~2.0% of their body-weight in all trials with no significant difference between them. At the end of the recovery, Ss were in a slightly hypohydrated condition with net fluid balance being the lowest for distilled water, despite no significant difference in total volume of the drinks consumed. For the 2% body-weight loss, percent rehydration was similar for the lemon-tea and carbohydrate-electrolyte conditions, but significantly lower for distilled-water. The percent of drinks retained in the body were similar for the lemon-tea and carbohydrate-electrolyte conditions but significantly lower for the distilled-water condition. Cumulative urine volume was significantly higher at the end of the recovery period for the distilled-water condition than in the other conditions. Plasma volume recovery was completed for all trials with the lemon-tea and carbohydrate-electrolyte values being higher than those recorded for the distilled-water condition. No significant differences were found for abdominal discomfort or stomach-fullness among trials.

Implication. Packed lemon-tea is better than distilled water, and as effective as a carbohydrate-electrolyte solution or rehydration following exercise-induced dehydration (2% body-weight loss) in hot conditions.

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