Post-exercise Rehydration: A Randomised Cross-over Trial Comparing a 100% Fruit Beverage, a Glucose-based Sports Drink, and Water

March 9, 2026 updated by: Loris Juett, Nottingham Trent University

Comparing The Rehydration Properties Of Two Sports / Hydration Drinks And Water, Following Exercise In The Heat

It is well-established that exercise has many health benefits. During exercise in temperate/hot conditions, sweating is necessary to dissipate heat. This sweating typically results in dehydration, which may impair physical and mental performance. Therefore, following exercise, effective rehydration is important to restore an optimal hydration state and therefore physical and mental performance. If an individual only rehydrates with water, though, it is unlikely that they will fully rehydrate as plain water is not very well-retained by the body, due to its lack of carbohydrate and electrolytes. For this reason, sports/ hydration drinks are likely to aid in better rehydration, due to their carbohydrate and electrolyte content. This project aims to compare the rehydration effectiveness and glucose responses to two sports / hydration drinks and water (with different carbohydrate and electrolyte contents).

Study Overview

Status

Status

Indicates the current recruitment status or the expanded access status.
Completed

Conditions

Conditions

The disease, disorder, syndrome, illness, or injury that is being studied. On ClinicalTrials.gov, conditions may also include other health-related issues, such as lifespan, quality of life, and health risks.

Intervention / Treatment

Intervention / Treatment

A process or action that is the focus of a clinical study. Interventions include drugs, medical devices, procedures, vaccines, and other products that are either investigational or already available. Interventions can also include noninvasive approaches, such as education or modifying diet and exercise.

Study Type

Study Type

Describes the nature of a clinical study. Study types include interventional studies (also called clinical trials), observational studies (including patient registries), and expanded access.
Interventional

Enrollment (Actual)

Enrollment

The number of participants in a clinical study. The "anticipated" enrollment is the target number of participants that the researchers need for the study.
17

Phase

Phase

The stage of a clinical trial studying a drug or biological product, based on definitions developed by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). The phase is based on the study's objective, the number of participants, and other characteristics. There are five phases: Early Phase 1 (formerly listed as Phase 0), Phase 1, Phase 2, Phase 3, and Phase 4. Not Applicable is used to describe trials without FDA-defined phases, including trials of devices or behavioral interventions.
  • Not Applicable

Contacts and Locations

This section provides the contact details for those conducting the study, and information on where this study is being conducted.

Study Locations

  • United Kingdom
      • Nottingham, United Kingdom, NG11 8NS
        • Nottingham Trent University, Clifton Campus

Participation Criteria

Researchers look for people who fit a certain description, called eligibility criteria. Some examples of these criteria are a person's general health condition or prior treatments.

Eligibility Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

The key requirements that people who want to participate in a clinical study must meet or the characteristics they must have. Eligibility criteria consist of both inclusion criteria (which are required for a person to participate in the study) and exclusion criteria (which prevent a person from participating). Types of eligibility criteria include whether a study accepts healthy volunteers, has age or age group requirements, or is limited by sex.

Ages Eligible for Study

  • Adult

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

Yes

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

- Training/performing > 1 hrs a week

Exclusion Criteria:

  • Smoker.
  • Pregnant, attempting to become pregnant, or breastfeeding.
  • Diabetic.
  • You have adverse events/reactions in response to fingertip capillary blood sampling which includes, but is not limited to; fainting and/or serious bruising.
  • History of heat-related illness.
  • History of heart failure, pulmonary hypertension, embolism, or other pulmonary heart disease.
  • Previously diagnosed with COPD, emphysema, bronchitis or similar respiratory illness.
  • Have a history of severe allergic reactions.
  • History of kidney issues.
  • Regular use of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory medications.
  • Any other medical conditions / medications that may interfere with an individuals ability to safely perform exercise in the heat and experience dehydration.
  • Allergies/intolerances to any of the following ingredients: Glucose Syrup, Acid (Citric Acid), Acidity Regulator (Sodium Citrate), Extract of Black Carrot, Watermelon, pomegranate, lime, Preservatives (Potassium Sorbate, Dimethyl Dicarbonate), Stabilisers (Acacia Gum), Sweeteners (Aspartame, Acesulfame K), Antioxidant (Ascorbic Acid), Flavourings, Niacin (Vitamin B3).
  • Elite athlete subject to doping tests

Study Plan

This section provides details of the study plan, including how the study is designed and what the study is measuring.

How is the study designed?

Design Details

  • Primary Purpose: Basic Science
  • Allocation: Randomized
  • Interventional Model: Crossover Assignment
  • Masking: None (Open Label)

Arms and Interventions

Participant Group / Arm

Participant Group / Arm

A group or subgroup of participants in a clinical trial that receives a specific intervention/treatment, or no intervention, according to the trial's protocol.
Intervention / Treatment

Intervention / Treatment

A process or action that is the focus of a clinical study. Interventions include drugs, medical devices, procedures, vaccines, and other products that are either investigational or already available. Interventions can also include noninvasive approaches, such as education or modifying diet and exercise.
Experimental: Water
Consumption of a water volume (from water) equal to 150% of body mass loses from exercise-induced hypohydration
Other: Water
Consumption of a water volume (from water) equal to 150% of body mass loses from exercise-induced hypohydration
Experimental: Glucose-based sports drink
Consumption of a water volume (from a glucose-based sports drink) equal to 150% of body mass loses from exercise-induced hypohydration
Other: Glucose-based sports drink
Consumption of a water volume (from a glucose-based sports drink) equal to 150% of body mass loses from exercise-induced hypohydration
Experimental: Fruit beverage
Consumption of a water volume (from a fruit beverage) equal to 150% of body mass loses from exercise-induced hypohydration
Other: Fruit beverage
Consumption of a water volume (from a fruit beverage) equal to 150% of body mass loses from exercise-induced hypohydration

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Primary Outcome Measures

In a clinical study's protocol, the planned outcome measure that is the most important for evaluating the effect of an intervention/treatment. Most clinical studies have one primary outcome measure, but some have more than one.
Outcome Measure
Measure Description
Time Frame
Net water Balance
Time Frame: Baseline (pre-exercise), post-exercise, and 0, 1, 2, 3, and 4 h post-rehydration
([post-exercise body mass (kg) - Pre-exercise body mass (kg)] x 1000) + water volume consumed (g) - cumulative urine output during rehydration period (g)
Baseline (pre-exercise), post-exercise, and 0, 1, 2, 3, and 4 h post-rehydration
Cumulative urine volume
Time Frame: 0, 1, 2, 3, and 4 h post-rehydration
0, 1, 2, 3, and 4 h post-rehydration
Total urine volume
Time Frame: Sum of urine produced at 0, 1, 2, 3, and 4 h post-rehydration
Total urine volume produced during the rehydration period
Sum of urine produced at 0, 1, 2, 3, and 4 h post-rehydration
Water retention
Time Frame: 4 h post-rehydration
([water volume consumed (g) - total urine volume produced during the rehydration period (g)] / water volume consumed (g)) x 100
4 h post-rehydration

Secondary Outcome Measures

Secondary Outcome Measures

In a clinical study's protocol, a planned outcome measure that is not as important as the primary outcome measure for evaluating the effect of an intervention but is still of interest. Most clinical studies have more than one secondary outcome measure.
Outcome Measure
Measure Description
Time Frame
Blood glucose concentration
Time Frame: Baseline (pre-exercise), post-exercise, and 0, 0.25, 0.5, 0.75, 1, 1.5, and 2 h post-rehydration
Baseline (pre-exercise), post-exercise, and 0, 0.25, 0.5, 0.75, 1, 1.5, and 2 h post-rehydration
Blood glucose area under the curve
Time Frame: The 2h period following rehydration
The 2h period following rehydration
Hyperglycaemia incidence
Time Frame: The 2 h period following rehydration
Number of participants that experience blood glucose > 7.8 mmol/L
The 2 h period following rehydration
Hypoglycaemia incidence
Time Frame: The 2 h period following rehydration
The number of participants that experience blood glucose < 3.9 mmol/L
The 2 h period following rehydration
Urine osmolality
Time Frame: Baseline (pre-exercise), post-exercise, and 0, 1, 2, 3, and 4 h post-rehydration
A measure of urine concentration.
Baseline (pre-exercise), post-exercise, and 0, 1, 2, 3, and 4 h post-rehydration
Body mass
Time Frame: Baseline (pre-exercise) and post-exercise (approximately 2 h post-baseline, depending on sweat losses during cycling in the heat)
Body mass in kilograms at baseline compared across trials. Body mass loss (both in grams and as a percentage) from pre-exercise to post-exercise compared across trials.
Baseline (pre-exercise) and post-exercise (approximately 2 h post-baseline, depending on sweat losses during cycling in the heat)
Thirst
Time Frame: Baseline (pre-exercise), towards the end of each 10 minute block of exercise (cycling in the heat), post-exercise, and 0, 1, 2, 3, and 4 h post-rehydration
Participants asked to rate their thirst on a scale of 0-10 (0 = no symptom, 10 = maximum symptom)
Baseline (pre-exercise), towards the end of each 10 minute block of exercise (cycling in the heat), post-exercise, and 0, 1, 2, 3, and 4 h post-rehydration
Gastrointestinal comfort
Time Frame: Baseline (pre-exercise), post-exercise, and 0, 1, 2, 3, and 4 h post-rehydration
Participants asked to rate their gastrointestinal comfort on a scale of 0-10 (0 = no symptom, 10 = maximum symptom)
Baseline (pre-exercise), post-exercise, and 0, 1, 2, 3, and 4 h post-rehydration
Rating of perceived exertion (RPE)
Time Frame: Measured towards the end of each 10 minute block of exercise (cycling in the heat). Up to 8 blocks lasting a total of 120 minutes (10 minutes of cycling, followed by 5 minutes of rest), depending on body mass loss.
Participants asked to rate their RPE on a scale of 6-20. This is a measure of exercise intensity. Average taken for dehydration period. Average compared across trials.
Measured towards the end of each 10 minute block of exercise (cycling in the heat). Up to 8 blocks lasting a total of 120 minutes (10 minutes of cycling, followed by 5 minutes of rest), depending on body mass loss.
Thermal sensation
Time Frame: Measured towards the end of each 10 minute block of exercise (cycling in the heat). Up to 8 blocks lasting a total of 120 minutes (10 minutes of cycling, followed by 5 minutes of rest), depending on body mass loss.
Participants asked to rate their thermal sensation on a scale of -10 (unbearably cold) to 10 (unbearably hot). Average taken for dehydration period. Average compared across trials.
Measured towards the end of each 10 minute block of exercise (cycling in the heat). Up to 8 blocks lasting a total of 120 minutes (10 minutes of cycling, followed by 5 minutes of rest), depending on body mass loss.
Time in environmental chamber
Time Frame: Up to 120 minutes, depending on body mass losses during cycling in the heat
The time in minutes that the participant spent in the environmental chamber at 35 degrees Celsius, doing repeated blocks of 10 minutes of cycling followed by 5 minutes of rest, until they reached approximately 1.5% body mass loss. Time compared across trials.
Up to 120 minutes, depending on body mass losses during cycling in the heat
Laboratory temperature
Time Frame: Baseline (pre-exercise), post-exercise, and 0, 1, 2, 3, and 4 h post-rehydration
Temperature (degrees Celsius) of the laboratory measured across the day and averaged. Averages compared across trials.
Baseline (pre-exercise), post-exercise, and 0, 1, 2, 3, and 4 h post-rehydration
Environmental chamber temperature
Time Frame: Measured towards the end of each 10 minute block of exercise (cycling in the heat). Up to 8 blocks lasting a total of 120 minutes (10 minutes of cycling, followed by 5 minutes of rest), depending on body mass loss.
Environmental chamber temperature (degrees Celsius) measured and averaged for the cycling in the heat period of each participant. Averages compared across trials.
Measured towards the end of each 10 minute block of exercise (cycling in the heat). Up to 8 blocks lasting a total of 120 minutes (10 minutes of cycling, followed by 5 minutes of rest), depending on body mass loss.
Laboratory humidity
Time Frame: Baseline (pre-exercise), post-exercise, and 0, 1, 2, 3, and 4 h post-rehydration
Humidity (relative humidity) of the laboratory measured across the day and averaged. Averages compared across trials.
Baseline (pre-exercise), post-exercise, and 0, 1, 2, 3, and 4 h post-rehydration
Environmental chamber humidity
Time Frame: Measured towards the end of each 10 minute block of exercise (cycling in the heat). Up to 8 blocks lasting a total of 120 minutes (10 minutes of cycling, followed by 5 minutes of rest), depending on body mass loss.
Environmental chamber humidity (relative humidity) measured and averaged for the cycling in the heat period of each participant. Averages compared across trials.
Measured towards the end of each 10 minute block of exercise (cycling in the heat). Up to 8 blocks lasting a total of 120 minutes (10 minutes of cycling, followed by 5 minutes of rest), depending on body mass loss.

Collaborators and Investigators

This is where you will find people and organizations involved with this study.

Sponsor

Sponsor

The organization or person who initiates the study and who has authority and control over the study.
Nottingham Trent University

Collaborators

Collaborators

An organization other than the sponsor that provides support for a clinical study. This support may include activities related to funding, design, implementation, data analysis, or reporting.
Innate-Essence Limited

Study record dates

These dates track the progress of study record and summary results submissions to ClinicalTrials.gov. Study records and reported results are reviewed by the National Library of Medicine (NLM) to make sure they meet specific quality control standards before being posted on the public website.

Study Major Dates

Study Start (Actual)

Study Start

The actual date on which the first participant was enrolled in a clinical study. The "anticipated" study start date is the date that the researchers think will be the study start date.
November 8, 2024

Primary Completion (Actual)

Primary Completion

The date on which the last participant in a clinical study was examined or received an intervention to collect final data for the primary outcome measure. Whether the clinical study ended according to the protocol or was terminated does not affect this date. For clinical studies with more than one primary outcome measure with different completion dates, this term refers to the date on which data collection is completed for all the primary outcome measures. The "anticipated" primary completion date is the date that the researchers think will be the primary completion date for the study.
May 22, 2025

Study Completion (Actual)

Study Completion

The date on which the last participant in a clinical study was examined or received an intervention/treatment to collect final data for the primary outcome measures, secondary outcome measures, and adverse events (that is, the last participant's last visit). The "anticipated" study completion date is the date that the researchers think will be the study completion date.
May 22, 2025

Study Registration Dates

First Submitted

First Submitted

The date on which the study sponsor or investigator first submitted a study record to ClinicalTrials.gov. There is typically a delay of a few days between the first submitted date and the record's availability on ClinicalTrials.gov (the first posted date).
March 3, 2026

First Submitted That Met QC Criteria

First Submitted That Met QC Criteria

The date on which the study sponsor or investigator first submits a study record that is consistent with National Library of Medicine (NLM) quality control (QC) review criteria. The sponsor or investigator may need to revise and submit a study record one or more times before NLM's QC review criteria are met. It is the responsibility of the sponsor or investigator to ensure that the study record is consistent with the NLM QC review criteria.
March 9, 2026

First Posted (Actual)

First Posted

The date on which the study record was first available on ClinicalTrials.gov after National Library of Medicine (NLM) quality control (QC) review has concluded. There is typically a delay of a few days between the date the study sponsor or investigator submitted the study record and the first posted date.
March 12, 2026

Study Record Updates

Last Update Posted (Actual)

Last Update Posted

The most recent date on which changes to a study record were made available on ClinicalTrials.gov. There may be a delay between when the changes were submitted to ClinicalTrials.gov by the study's sponsor or investigator (the last update submitted date) and the last update posted date.
March 12, 2026

Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria

Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria

The most recent date on which the study sponsor or investigator submitted changes to a study record that are consistent with National Library of Medicine (NLM) quality control (QC) review criteria. It is the responsibility of the sponsor or investigator to ensure that the study record is consistent with the NLM QC review criteria.
March 9, 2026

Last Verified

Last Verified

The most recent date on which the study sponsor or investigator confirmed the information about a clinical study on ClinicalTrials.gov as accurate and current. If a study with a recruitment status of recruiting; not yet recruiting; or active, not recruiting has not been confirmed within the past 2 years, the study's recruitment status is shown as unknown.
March 1, 2026

More Information

Terms related to this study

Additional Relevant MeSH Terms

Other Study ID Numbers

Other Study ID Numbers

Identifiers or ID numbers other than the NCT number that are assigned to a clinical study by the study's sponsor, funders, or others. These numbers may include unique identifiers from other trial registries and National Institutes of Health grant numbers.
  • 1911625

Plan for Individual participant data (IPD)

Plan to Share Individual Participant Data (IPD)?

NO

Drug and device information, study documents

Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated drug product

No

Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated device product

No

This information was retrieved directly from the website clinicaltrials.gov without any changes. If you have any requests to change, remove or update your study details, please contact register@clinicaltrials.gov. As soon as a change is implemented on clinicaltrials.gov, this will be updated automatically on our website as well.

Cookie Settings

We use cookies to ensure that we give you the best experience on our website. For more details carefully read our Privacy and Cookies Policy. ...>>>You can change your preferences or withdraw your consent at any time by deleting the cookies from your website or computer as described in the policy. Please accept it and choose your preferences by ticking the corresponding boxes in the "Manage Settings" section below. Please carefully read our Terms of Service before you proceed with using any part of this website.
«Manage Settings