Normative data for sweating rate, sweat sodium concentration, and sweat sodium loss in athletes: An update and analysis by sport. Issue 20 (18th October 2019)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Barnes, Kelly A.; Anderson, Melissa L.; Stofan, John R.; Dalrymple, Kortney J.; Reimel, Adam J.; Roberts, Timothy J.; Randell, Rebecca K.; Ungaro, Corey T.; Baker, Lindsay B.
• Is Part Of: Journal of sports sciences. Volume 37:Issue 20(2019)
• Page Start: 2356
• Page End: 2366
• Publication Date: 2019-10-18
• Subjects: Sweat -- sodium -- team sports -- endurance; Sports -- Periodicals; Sports -- Physiological aspects -- Periodicals; Sports -- Psychological aspects -- Periodicals; 612.044
• DOI: 10.1080/02640414.2019.1633159
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0264-0414

Abstract

ABSTRACT: The purpose of this study was to expand our previously published sweat normative data/analysis (n = 506) to establish sport-specific normative data for whole-body sweating rate (WBSR), sweat [Na + ], and rate of sweat Na + loss (RSSL). Data from 1303 athletes were compiled from observational testing (2000–2017) using a standardized absorbent sweat patch technique to determine local sweat [Na + ] and normalized to whole-body sweat [Na + ]. WBSR was determined from change in exercise body mass, corrected for food/fluid intake and urine/stool loss. RSSL was the product of sweat [Na + ] and WBSR. There were significant differences between sports for WBSR, with highest losses in American football (1.51 ± 0.70 L/h), then endurance (1.28 ± 0.57 L/h), followed by basketball (0.95 ± 0.42 L/h), soccer (0.94 ± 0.38 L/h) and baseball (0.83 ± 0.34 L/h). For RSSL, American football (55.9 ± 36.8 mmol/h) and endurance (51.7 ± 27.8 mmol/h) were greater than soccer (34.6 ± 19.2 mmol/h), basketball (34.5 ± 21.2 mmol/h), and baseball (27.2 ± 14.7 mmol/h). After ANCOVA, significant between-sport differences in adjusted means for WBSR and RSSL remained. In summary, due to the significant sport-specific variation in WBSR and RSSL, American football and endurance have the greatest need for deliberate hydration strategies. Abbreviations: WBSR: whole body sweating rate; SR: sweating rate; Na + : sodium; RSSL: rate of sweat sodium loss