(OR21-02-25) Oral Rehydration Solutions Improve Measures of Hydration Over a 4hr Period in Healthy Men and Women

Objectives: Oral rehydration solutions (ORS) are effective in improving hydration status in healthy individuals, across a wide variety of activities including exercise/physical work, travel & heat exposure. While traditional ORS relies on sugar to accelerate hydration, other ingredients may also be able to provide a similar effect. Allulose is a naturally occurring, rare digestible, but not metabolized sugar with a structure similar to fructose & could help with hydration. We compared the hydrating effects of two commercial ORS, one sugar-sweetened (ORS) & one novel allulose-sweetened (SF-ORS), & a novel non-commercial allulose-sweetened ORS (SF-ORS*). We hypothesized that the Beverage Hydration Index (BHI) & net fluid balance for all ORS would be higher after 4hrs than water.

Methods: 28 healthy euhydrated subjects (9M/19F) between 20-45 years of age were recruited to determine the BHI & additional variables related to hydration status following the intake of three ORS or water. Subjects reported to the lab on four different days, separated by approximately one week. Each day, they consumed 1L of the following four beverages, using a randomized, single-blind, cross-over design: Water (W), sugar-sweetened ORS (ORS), allulose-sweetened ORS (SF-ORS), or non-commercial allulose-sweetened ORS (SF-ORS*). Urine was collected at the end of hours 1-4 post intake. Cumulative urine mass was measured. Fluid balance & BHI were calculated.

Results: At the 4hr timepoint, all ORS performed better than W. After 4hrs, W exhibited significantly greater cumulative urine mass when compared to ORS (p=0.004); SF-ORS (p < 0.0001); & SF-ORS* (p < 0.0001). Similar findings were noted for net fluid balance, with all ORS significantly outperforming W after 4hrs: for ORS (p=0.004); SF-ORS (p < 0.0001); and SF-ORS* (p < 0.0001). For BHI, W was also outperformed by ORS (p=0.028); SF-ORS (p=0.02); and SF-ORS* (p=0.001) after 4hrs.

Conclusions: All ORS resulted in improved hydration status as compared to W after 4hrs. These data suggest that ORS can prove advantageous for a variety of activities including but not limited to exercise, physical work, travel and heat exposure, where maintaining optimal fluid balance is key. The use of a novel allulose-sweetened ORS could be of improved utility, especially for those individuals who are conscious of sugar intake.

Funding Sources: Liquid I.V.