No case of exercise-associated hyponatremia in male ultra-endurance mountain bikers in the 'Swiss Bike Masters'. 2011

Beat Knechtle, and Patrizia Knechtle, and Thomas Rosemann
Institute of General Practice and Health Services Research, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland. beat.knechtle@hispeed.ch

Exercise-associated hyponatremia (EAH) has mainly been investigated in runners and triathletes. In mountain bikers, EAH was studied in two multi-stage races, but not in a single stage race. The aim of this study was to investigate the prevalence of EAH in a single-stage mountain bike ultra-marathon. In the 'Swiss Bike Masters' over 120 km with a climb of ~ 5,000 m in altitude, we determined pre and post race body mass, hematocrit, plasma sodium concentration ([Na⁺]), and urinary specific gravity in 37 cyclists. Athletes recorded their fluid intake while racing. No athlete developed EAH. The cyclists drank on average (means ± SD) 0.7 ± 0.2 l/h. Fluid intake was significantly and negatively related to race time (r = -0.41, P < 0.05), but showed no association with post race plasma [Na⁺], the change in plasma [Na⁺], post race body mass, or the change in body mass. The athletes lost 1.4 kg body mass (P < 0.05), plasma [Na⁺] decreased by 0.7% (P < 0.05), plasma volume increased by 1.4% and urinary specific gravity increased by 0.4% (P < 0.05). The change in body mass was neither related to post race plasma [Na⁺] nor to the change in plasma [Na⁺]. The decrease in plasma [Na⁺] was not related to fluid intake. The change in plasma [Na⁺] was related to post race plasma [Na⁺] (r = 0.40, P < 0.01). Ad libitum fluid intake showed no case of EAH in a single-stage mountain bike ultra-marathon. In contrast to previous findings, the faster athletes drank more than the slower ones.

UI MeSH Term Description Entries
D007010 Hyponatremia Deficiency of sodium in the blood; salt depletion. (Dorland, 27th ed) Hyponatremias
D008297 Male Males
D008875 Middle Aged An adult aged 45 - 64 years. Middle Age
D010807 Physical Endurance The time span between the beginning of physical activity by an individual and the termination because of exhaustion. Endurance, Physical,Physical Stamina,Stamina, Physical
D001835 Body Weight The mass or quantity of heaviness of an individual. It is expressed by units of pounds or kilograms. Body Weights,Weight, Body,Weights, Body
D006801 Humans Members of the species Homo sapiens. Homo sapiens,Man (Taxonomy),Human,Man, Modern,Modern Man
D000328 Adult A person having attained full growth or maturity. Adults are of 19 through 44 years of age. For a person between 19 and 24 years of age, YOUNG ADULT is available. Adults
D001642 Bicycling The use of a bicycle for transportation or recreation. It does not include the use of a bicycle in studying the body's response to physical exertion (BICYCLE ERGOMETRY TEST see EXERCISE TEST).
D013557 Switzerland A country in Europe. It is bordered by Austria, France, Italy, Liechtenstein, and Germany. The capital is Bern.
D014883 Water-Electrolyte Imbalance Disturbances in the body's WATER-ELECTROLYTE BALANCE. Imbalance, Water-Electrolyte,Imbalances, Water-Electrolyte,Water Electrolyte Imbalance,Water-Electrolyte Imbalances

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