why are we talking about this study for 8 years ago? However, I agree that whether to use sodium pills and how much if you do are both interesting an controversial topics.
I think it more complicated than one study from 2006. Just a quick pubmed search shows this trial (http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/23253191) where sodium + water was better than water alone on cycling performance in hot conditions . But
when a different group studied cycling in cool conditions (http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/23731903) they found no effect of added sodium.
I agree 100% that our homeostatic mechanisms maintain serum sodium very well and that excretion of sodium is well controlled. But you have to factor in performance, since that's what (most) of us are interested in. I could spin the data differently. In some individuals, sodium supplementation forces a higher sweat rate and encourages more ad lib water drinking. During the race they consume more water and sodium, but also excrete more of each. At the end of the race their serum sodium , body wt, etc are unchanged. Then the question is did the higher sodium and water consumption and excretion lead to better performance in the athlete?
Brian
“Eat and Drink, spin the legs and you’re going to effin push (today).” A Howe
I think it more complicated than one study from 2006. Just a quick pubmed search shows this trial (http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/23253191) where sodium + water was better than water alone on cycling performance in hot conditions . But
when a different group studied cycling in cool conditions (http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/23731903) they found no effect of added sodium.
I agree 100% that our homeostatic mechanisms maintain serum sodium very well and that excretion of sodium is well controlled. But you have to factor in performance, since that's what (most) of us are interested in. I could spin the data differently. In some individuals, sodium supplementation forces a higher sweat rate and encourages more ad lib water drinking. During the race they consume more water and sodium, but also excrete more of each. At the end of the race their serum sodium , body wt, etc are unchanged. Then the question is did the higher sodium and water consumption and excretion lead to better performance in the athlete?
Brian
“Eat and Drink, spin the legs and you’re going to effin push (today).” A Howe