ABSTRACT
It is well recognized that fluid ingestion can benefit performance in many exercise situations, and an extensive literature is devoted to the various performance-enhancing effects of different beverage formulations. The interest of the athletic community in sports drinks is largely confined to their potential for improved performance. To the scientist, however, the administration of drinks of varying composition during exercise offers a tool for the study of the normal physiological response to exercise. Indeed, exercise itself is often used as a model for the investigation of normal physiological function, a scientific approach that also benefits the athlete. If the normal responses to exercise are understood, and if the sequelae of fluid ingestion are also known, then predictions can be made that will allow optimizsation of the formulation of drinks intended to improve performance.
