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Hydration Status in Athletes
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Hydration Status in Athletes

A special issue of Nutrients (ISSN 2072-6643). This special issue belongs to the section "Sports Nutrition".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (15 April 2026) | Viewed by 9350

Special Issue Editor

Dr. Brendon P. McDermott

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Department of Health, Human Performance, and Recreation, University of Arkansas, Fayetteville, AR 72701, USA
Interests: thermoregulation; fluid balance; renal physiology; heat illness; hydration behaviors
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Despite a resounding focus on hydration related to athletic preparation and competition, many questions remain on the topic. For example, hydration status identification remains an enigma. Further, hydration recommendations for athletes continue to span from minimal guidance (thirst-driven) to metric-based approaches (replace precise sweat losses). Debate continues as evidence grows in this area. Furthermore, the public are faced with advertisements about beverage additions and how they maximize safety, health, performance, and even hydration itself. The goal of this Special Issue is to further our knowledge of hydration status, practices, and the potential benefits of various hydration strategies.

Dr. Brendon P. McDermott
Guest Editor

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 250 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for assessment.

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Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2900 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

  • hydration assessment
  • hyponatremia
  • fluid overload
  • sweat rate
  • dehydration

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Published Papers (3 papers)

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Research

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20 pages, 1111 KB  
Article
Hydration Responses to Pre-Exercise Sodium Hyperhydration at Rest and During Cycling in the Heat and Across Menstrual Cycle Phases
by Lilia Convit, Liliana Orellana, Julien D. Périard, Amelia J. Carr, Stuart Warmington, Ashwin K. V. Mruthunjaya, Angel A. J. Torriero and Rhiannon M. J. Snipe
Nutrients 2025, 17(23), 3672; https://doi.org/10.3390/nu17233672 - 24 Nov 2025
Viewed by 3809
Abstract
Purpose: This study examined hydration responses to sodium hyperhydration in female athletes at rest and during cycling across the early follicular and mid-luteal phases of the menstrual cycle. Methods: Twelve cyclists/triathletes consumed 30 mL·kg−1 fat-free mass fluid with either sodium [...] Read more.
Purpose: This study examined hydration responses to sodium hyperhydration in female athletes at rest and during cycling across the early follicular and mid-luteal phases of the menstrual cycle. Methods: Twelve cyclists/triathletes consumed 30 mL·kg−1 fat-free mass fluid with either sodium chloride (7.5 g·L−1) or placebo (sucrose) 2 h before 75 min of steady-state cycling (60% VO2peak) and a 200 kJ time trial (TT) in a hot environment (34 °C, 60% RH). Body mass was measured, and urine was collected every 30 min, whilst blood samples were taken hourly pre-exercise, post-steady-state, and post-TT. Results: During pre-exercise, sodium hyperhydration increased fluid retention (509.0 mL, 95% CI: [349.0, 669.0]; p < 0.001), while reducing urine volume (−107.4 [−146.7, −68.1] mL; p < 0.001). During exercise, body mass loss was lower with sodium during steady-state (−0.20%; p = 0.001) and TT (−0.15%; p = 0.037), but sweat rates were reduced with sodium only during steady-state (−0.08 L·h−1; p = 0.001). Exploratory analyses showed greater effects in the early-follicular phase, with reductions in body mass loss (−0.26%; p = 0.004), sweat rate (−0.1 L·h−1; p = 0.003), and post-TT arginine vasopressin (−10.8 [−19.2, −2.3] pg·mL−1; p = 0.013). Conclusions: Sodium hyperhydration effectively enhanced fluid retention and reduced body mass loss during exercise in the heat. While no consistent main effects of menstrual cycle phase were observed, some phase-specific differences emerged, particularly in the early-follicular phase. These findings highlight the importance of monitoring hydration responses across the menstrual cycle and tailoring strategies to individual needs, rather than applying universal phase-specific recommendations. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Hydration Status in Athletes)
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Review

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24 pages, 307 KB  
Review
Taurine Supplementation and Human Heat Tolerance: Mechanisms, Evidence, and Integration with Heat Acclimation, Cooling, and Hydration
by Siavash Naddafha, Jeffrey R. Stout and Cassandra Evans
Nutrients 2026, 18(4), 592; https://doi.org/10.3390/nu18040592 - 11 Feb 2026
Viewed by 1326
Abstract
Heat exposure during strenuous exercise increases core temperature and cardiovascular strain, impairing performance and elevating the risk of heat illness. Standard countermeasures include heat acclimation, cooling, and hydration/electrolyte planning. Taurine is a sulfur-containing amino acid present in excitable tissues and widely used as [...] Read more.
Heat exposure during strenuous exercise increases core temperature and cardiovascular strain, impairing performance and elevating the risk of heat illness. Standard countermeasures include heat acclimation, cooling, and hydration/electrolyte planning. Taurine is a sulfur-containing amino acid present in excitable tissues and widely used as an oral supplement; emerging human trials suggest it can augment thermoregulation, primarily by enhancing eccrine sweating and evaporative heat loss. This narrative review synthesizes mechanistic and applied evidence on taurine during exercise in hot environments and evaluates potential interactions with acclimation, cooling strategies (pre- and per-cooling), and hydration practices. Across a small number of randomized, mostly double-blind crossover studies, acute (~50 mg/kg) or short-term multi-day supplementation has been associated with earlier sweat onset, higher sweat production, modestly lower core temperature (~0.3–0.4 °C), and, in one multi-arm trial, a large standardized reduction in core temperature (d ≈ 1.9), with improved exercise capacity or performance. Benefits appear to be context-dependent and may be attenuated when sweating is constrained (e.g., impermeable protective clothing) or when heat acclimation is already optimized. Because taurine may increase sweat losses, its use should be paired with individualized fluid and sodium replacement. Current evidence is promising but remains constrained by small samples and heterogeneous protocols; adequately powered field trials are required to establish dose–response, safety and efficacy across populations, and additive value when combined with established heat-mitigation strategies. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Hydration Status in Athletes)
12 pages, 230 KB  
Review
Hydration Strategies in Ultra-Endurance Running: A Narrative Review of Programmed Versus Thirst-Driven Approaches
by Shawn C. Wierick, Rosie I. Perez, Xiujing Zhao and Brendon P. McDermott
Nutrients 2025, 17(22), 3526; https://doi.org/10.3390/nu17223526 - 11 Nov 2025
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 3708
Abstract
Background/Objectives: Ultra-endurance running (UER) presents unique hydration challenges due to prolonged duration, variable terrain, environmental extremes, and gastrointestinal limitations. Athletes often use either programmed fluid intake (PFI), which prescribes fluid volumes based on estimated sweat rate, or thirst-driven fluid intake (TDFI), which relies [...] Read more.
Background/Objectives: Ultra-endurance running (UER) presents unique hydration challenges due to prolonged duration, variable terrain, environmental extremes, and gastrointestinal limitations. Athletes often use either programmed fluid intake (PFI), which prescribes fluid volumes based on estimated sweat rate, or thirst-driven fluid intake (TDFI), which relies on internal cues. This review examines the effectiveness and limitations of each strategy in the context of UER performance and safety. Methods: A narrative review was conducted using a targeted selection of peer-reviewed studies. Both laboratory- and field-based research were included to evaluate the physiological rationale, practical feasibility, and outcomes associated with PFI and TDFI. A total of six studies (five field-based ultra-endurance and one laboratory-based endurance protocols) were included for narrative synthesis. Results: Laboratory trials support PFI for preserving plasma volume, reducing cardiovascular strain, and improving performance in prolonged exercise under controlled conditions. However, real-world ultra-endurance events often involve environmental and logistical challenges that limit the applicability of rigid hydration strategies. Field studies demonstrate that TDFI is safe and effective for many experienced athletes, with no increased incidence of exercise-associated hyponatremia or measurable performance impairment, even with moderate body mass loss. Still, TDFI may underperform in individuals with high sweat rates or impaired thirst perception. Conclusions: Neither strategy seems universally superior. A hybrid model that integrates individual sweat testing, environmental context, and responsiveness to internal cues may offer the most practical and effective hydration approach in ultra-endurance running. Continued research is needed to validate hydration strategies under field conditions and to inform personalized, performance-oriented guidelines. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Hydration Status in Athletes)
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