Abstract
Background: Leading sports medicine and nutrition organizations recommend replacing sodium losses during prolonged exercise; however, practical guidance for implementing sodium replacement strategies remains limited. Estimating sodium needs during exercise requires assessment of both whole-body sweat sodium concentration (WBSSC) and sweat rate. Objectives: This study focused on WBSSC by examining its temporal stability, reproducibility, and predictability during prolonged cycling exercise while drinking according to two hydration strategies. Methods: Using a randomized, crossover, counterbalanced design, eight highly trained men completed two 5 h cycling sessions (183 ± 14 W, 30 °C) while consuming fluids either in a programmed (P) or ad libitum (A(L)) fashion. Sweat was collected with patches applied on the forearm for ~20 min before sampling, which occurred at ~40, 130, 220, and 290 min. Local sweat sodium concentration was converted to WBSSC using a validated equation. Results: A main effect of time was observed for WBSSC (p < 0.05), with only the 40 min time point differing from later measurements; no condition or interaction effects were detected. The within-trial typical variation in WBSSC was 7.2 mmol·L(-1) for P and 6.1 mmol·L(-1) for A(L), while the between-trial typical variation was 5.6 mmol·L(-1). The WBSSC measured at 40 min predicted mean exercise WBSSC with good precision and moderate stability (y = 0.2738 + 1.3397x, R(2) = 0.87, standard error of the estimate = 5.4 mmol·L(-1), 95% confidence interval slope = 0.82-1.86 mmol·L(-1)). Conclusions: These findings indicate that during prolonged cycling exercise, WBSSC (1) varies trivially within and between trials; (2) can reasonably be predicted using a single sweat sample and; (3) is not influenced by P or A(L) drinking.