ArticleJournal of athletic training
Drinking to thirst versus drinking ad libitum during road cycling.
Article in Journal of athletic training. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 18 papers.
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Who cites it
18 citing papers in PubMed.
- The Effect of Fluid Availability on Consumption and Perceptual Measures during Aerobic Exercise.International journal of environmental research and public health · 2023Trial
- Review
- Children, Adolescents and Urine Hydration Indices-A Systematic Literature Review on Athletes and Non-Athletes.Children (Basel, Switzerland) · 2025Review
- Reference Values for Hydration Biomarkers: Optimizing Athletic Performance and Recovery.Open access journal of sports medicine · 2025Review
- Fluid Intake and Hydration Responses to Mass Participation Gravel Cycling.International journal of exercise science · 2024Article
- Article
- Prevalence of Dehydration and The Relationship with Fluid Intake and Self-Assessment of Hydration Status in Czech First League Soccer Players.Journal of human kinetics · 2022Article
- Awareness of Fluid Losses Does Not Impact Thirst during Exercise in the Heat: A Double-Blind, Cross-Over Study.Nutrients · 2021Article
- A lavatory urine color (LUC) chart method can identify hypohydration in a physically active population.European journal of nutrition · 2021Article
- Review
- Effects of electrolyzed hydrogen water ingestion during endurance exercise in a heated environment on body fluid balance and exercise performance.Temperature (Austin, Tex.) · 2020Article
- Ad libitum water consumption prevents exercise-associated hyponatremia and protects against dehydration in soldiers performing a 40-km route-march.Military Medical Research · 2019Observational
- The effect of hot and cold drinks on thermoregulation, perception, and performance: the role of the gut in thermoreception.European journal of applied physiology · 2018Article
- Ad libitum drinking adequately supports hydration during 2 h of running in different ambient temperatures.European journal of applied physiology · 2018Article
- Drinking Strategies: Planned Drinking Versus Drinking to Thirst.Sports medicine (Auckland, N.Z.) · 2018Review
- National Athletic Trainers' Association Position Statement: Fluid Replacement for the Physically Active.Journal of athletic training · 2017Article
- Reported Hydration Beliefs and Behaviors without Effect on Plasma Sodium in Endurance Athletes.Frontiers in physiology · 2017Article
- What do athletes drink during competitive sporting activities?Sports medicine (Auckland, N.Z.) · 2013Review
Corrections and comments
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Authors and funding
12 authors.
Funding
No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.
Abstract
contextThe sensation of thirst is different from the complex behavior of drinking ad libitum. Rehydration recommendations to athletes differ, depending on the source, yet no previous researchers have systematically compared drinking to thirst (D(TT)) versus ad libitum drinking behavior (D(AL)).
objectiveTo compare 2 groups of trained cyclists (D(TT) and D(AL)) who had similar physical characteristics and training programs (P > .05). The D(TT) group (n = 12, age = 47 ± 7 years) drank only when thirsty, whereas the D(AL) group (n = 12, age = 44 ± 7 years) consumed fluid ad libitum (ie, whenever and in whatever volume desired).
designCohort study.
settingRoad cycling (164 km) in the heat (36.1 °C ± 6.5 °C). PATIENTS OR OTHER
participantsUltraendurance cyclists (4 women, 20 men). INTERVENTION(S): We recorded measurements 1 day before the event, on event day before the start, at 3 roadside aid stations, at the finish line, and 1 day after the event. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE(S): Body mass, urinary hydration indices, and food and fluids consumed.
resultsNo between-groups differences were seen on event day for total exercise time (DTT = 6.69 ± 0.89 hours, DAL = 6.66 ± 0.77 hours), urinary indices (specific gravity, color), body mass change (D(TT) = -2.22% ± 1.73%, DAL = -2.29% ± 1.62%), fluid intake (D(TT) = 5.63 ± 2.59 L/6.7 h, D(AL) = 6.04 ± 2.37 L/6.7 h), dietary energy intake, macronutrient intake, ratings of thirst (D(TT) start = 2 ± 1, D(TT) finish = 6 ± 1, DAL start = 2 ± 1, D(AL) finish = 6 ± 1), pain, perceived exertion, or thermal sensation. Total fluid intake on recovery day +1 was the primary significant difference (D(AL) = 5.13 ± 1.87 L/24 h, D(TT) = 3.13 ± 1.53 L/24 h, t18 = 2.59, P = .02).
conclusionsObservations on event day indicated that drinking to thirst and drinking ad libitum resulted in similar physiologic and perceptual outcomes. This suggests that specific instructions to "drink to thirst" were unnecessary. Indeed, if athletes drink ad libitum, they can focus on training and competition rather than being distracted by ongoing evaluation of thirst sensations.
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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.