Riebe, D., Kenefick, R. W., Castellani, J. W., Echegaray, M., Maresh, C. M., Armstrong, L. E. & Camaione, D. N. (1997). Cardiovascular responses to oral and intravenous rehydration following exercise-induced dehydration. Medicine and Science in Sports and Exercise, 29(5), Supplement abstract 762.

The effects of intravenous versus oral rehydration following exercise-induced dehydration on cardiovascular responses and global left ventricular function during a subsequent exercise bout were investigated.

Males (N = 6) underwent 2-4 hours of exercise to reduce body weight by 4%. Rehydration treatments included 0.9% and 0.45% saline infusion, 0.45% saline ingestion, and no fluid. Following rehydration and two hours rest, Ss walked at 50% VO2max for 60 min at 36 degrees Celsius.

Dehydration did not affect left ventricular function. There were no differences in the response factors between the three forms of rehydration but each was superior to the no-fluid condition.

Implication. Rehydration with a weak saline solution after exercise-induced dehydration produces similar responses whether given orally or intravenously.

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