Fluid consumption habits of elite athletes

Abstract

The objective of present study was to examine fluid consumption habits of elite Turkish athletes and compared total fluid intake of training (TD) and non-training (NTD) days. A total of 142 male and 103 female Turkish elite athlete volunteers participated in present study. Written questions asked techniques were used for data collection. Questionnaire collected personal knowledge and assessed fluid consumption of subjects. To compared NTD and TD fluid consumption was used independent samples t-test.Female athletes in NTD and TD intake water 1066.4 ml/day (47.5%) and 1518.4 ml/day (51.4%), tea 386.1 ml/day (17.2%) and 534.7 ml/day (18.1%), fruit juice 175.1 ml/day (7.8%) and 239.3 ml/day (8.1%), energy drinks 40.4 ml/day (1.8%) and 85.7 ml/day (2.9%), respectively. Male athletes in NTD and TD intake water 1192.1 ml/day (48.4%) and 1653.7 ml/day (52.1%), tea 445.8 ml/day (18.1%) and 568.1 ml/day (17.9%), fruit juice 169.9 ml/day (6.9%) and 241.2 ml/day (7.6%), energy drinks 54.2 ml/day (2.2%) and 98.4 ml/day (3.1%), respectively. Male subjects consumed 28.9% more fluid in TD (3174 +/- 46.3) than NTD (2463 +/- 32.1 ml/day). Female subjects consumed 31.6% more fluid in TD (2954 +/- 35.4) than NTD (2245 +/- 45.2 ml/day).Adequate fluid consumption, especially water intake is very important for athletes. Athletes have been increased fluid intake in training days. Water is the most increased fluid. This may be related to excessive sweating of athletes during exercise.