Research summary · Nutrition and hydration
Athlete body-water testing may need three to four hours for bromide equilibration
Thirty-one athletes, approximately 42% women, underwent body-water assessment before and after four days of increased or maintained water intake. Researchers compared saliva bromide measurements three, four and five hours after dosing to examine measurement timing.
- Publication year
- 2026
- First published online
- Publication type
- Longitudinal methodological sub-analysis of a randomized trial
- Journal
- Clinical Nutrition ESPEN
- Population / context
- Athletes · Hydration assessment
What the publication reports
At baseline, most athletes reached equilibrium at three or four hours; after the intervention, most peaked at three hours. Peak timing was not significantly associated with intervention group or sex. The authors suggest that extending collection to five hours may usually be unnecessary.
Limits and interpretation
This small methodological sub-analysis needs replication. Some participants peaked later, so the results should not be treated as a universal rule. It evaluates measurement procedures, not an optimal drinking volume or a hydration strategy proven to improve performance.
Read the source
Consult the original record for the full author list, methods, references, funding and competing-interest disclosures.
Comparison of different bromide equilibrium times to measure extracellular water in athletes: Analysis before and after a 4-day intervention to increase water intake
Original publication / indexed recordPMID: 42285220DOI: 10.1016/j.clnesp.2026.103398Full text at the sourceReader discussion
Discuss the evidence.
Ask a question, share a source or discuss the methods. Respectful disagreement is welcome. Every comment and reply is reviewed before publication.
Loading comments…