Research paper
Noakes TD. Drinking guidelines for exercise: what evidence is there that athletes should drink “as much as tolerable”, “to replace the weight lost during exercise” or “ad libitum”? J Sports Sci. 2007 May;25(7):781-96. doi:10.1080/02640410600875036
Why we cite it
A rebuttal to the International Olympic Committee’s consensus guidelines on drinking during exercise. Noakes argues that the IOC’s advice to drink enough to replace all weight lost during exercise, like the 1996 American College of Sports Medicine advice to drink ”as much as tolerable”, lacks ”an adequate, scientifically proven evidence base”, and that the 1996 advice ”has caused some to overdrink leading to water retention, weight gain and, in a few, death from exercise-associated hyponatraemic encephalopathy”. He asks that any universal guidelines first be tested in controlled, randomized, prospective trials, and names ”the potential influence of commercial interests on scientific independence and objectivity” as one of the two lessons of the 1996 guidelines.
About the author
Timothy David Noakes (MBChB, MD, DSc University of Cape Town, 2002; FACSM) is Professor Emeritus in the Division of Exercise Science and Sports Medicine at the University of Cape Town. Founded the MRC/UCT Research Unit for Exercise Science and Sports Medicine. Reported exercise-associated hyponatremia (EAH) in a female runner in the 1984 Comrades Marathon, published in 1985. 2002 International Cannes Grand Prix Award for Research in Medicine and Water.
DOI: 10.1080/02640410600875036 · PubMed 17454546 · Publisher