The Comparison of the Effects of Water, Sports Drink, and Glucose Polymer Drink on Hydration and Physical Performance amongst Soccer Athletes

Introduction: The purpose of this study was to compare the performance and hydration between three drinks: water, a sports drink, and a glucose polymer drink. Methods: Eight male (age 24.25 ± 2.053, 176.68 cm ± 5.896, 73.51 kg ± 7.96) participants were recruited from the soccer population at San Francisco State University, San Francisco Soccer League, and Berkeley Soccer League. The participants performed a total of three separate drink trials, with three to five days between each trial. Three different agility tests were performed, followed by a treadmill dehydration test, and followed by the ingestion of the selected drink. The participants rested for 90 minutes, followed by repeating the same three agility tests to measure physical performance. Results: At the 90-minute resting point, urine specific gravity was significantly lower when water was used for rehydration compared to the sport drink fluid use for rehydration ( p ≤0.007). In the 4x5 m test, the glucose polymer and sport drink had a significantly lower performance time compared to when water was used ( p ≤0.004). When the glucose polymer drink was used for rehydration there were significant positive correlations between the 90-minute resting point of the total body water and the body mass variables, and the post measurement of the agility performance in the sprint test ( r = 0.81 r = 0.76 respectively) Conclusion: Evidence showed that in the agility 4x5 m test, the sport drink and glucose polymer drinks when used for rehydration had a lower performance time than when water was used for rehydration. The water drink use had a lower urine specific gravity than when the sport drink was used for rehydration.