1990 West 3300 South
Ogden, UT 84401
Phone (801) 731-7040
Fax (801) 731-7985
Contact: Karie Anderson
Phone: (801) 731-7040, ext. 385
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
1 PM MDT, April 22, 2005
Drinking too much water not fortified with electrolytes can lead to hyponatremia,
a surprisingly common and potentially lethal condition. To prevent this deadly
condition, athletes—including runners, cyclists, and hikers—need to
regulate fluid balance and maintain electrolyte levels.
Ogden, Utah, April 22, 2005 — A new study published in the April 14 issue of the New England Journal of Medicine (NEJM) reporting that hyponatremia, or abnormally low blood sodium levels, has emerged as a prominent cause of race-related death and life-threatening illness among marathon runners demonstrates just how critical it is to maintain electrolyte levels.
Hyponatremia is common in endurance athletes who lose high levels of electrolytes from sweat and inadvertently dilute their blood electrolyte levels by drinking too much fluid in an effort to prevent dehydration. Hyponatremia can lead to lethargy, nausea, seizures, and death.
The NEJM study found that 13 percent of Boston marathon runners studied had a serious imbalance of fluid and electrolytes. Those who had the highest risk for hyponatremia included thin runners, those who drank fluids every mile, and those who drank more than 3 liters of fluid during the race.
According to Val Anderson, of ELETE (a division of Mineral Resources International), the dilemma facing endurance athletes is how to prevent dehydration and depleted electrolyte levels under extreme conditions through appropriate fluid consumption. This problem encompasses the need to regulate the consumption of fluids and electrolytes, which support energy, regulate fluid balance and thirst response.
Water alone doesn’t provide any electrolytes. While drinking a sports drink or taking a salt tablet may seem like a natural solution to ward off hyponatremia, these products can give an athlete a false sense of security and undermine performance. Most sports drinks leave out important electrolytes like magnesium and place an overemphasis on sodium, sugar or sweeteners, which increase the thirst response. Salt tablets provide a high concentration of only one electrolyte—sodium—that can cause an imbalance of electrolytes.
Both fluids and electrolytes are essential for health and energy. Endurance athletes should adopt a balanced approach to fluid and electrolyte consumption during an event, which will help to prevent dehydration and hyponatremia as well as the fatigue that can accompany ultra-endurance events.
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