Metabolic flexibility is the ability to properly switch between fat and carbohydrate stores to use for energy under different conditions (rest, feeding, exercise). Impairments in metabolic flexibility, also known as metabolic inflexibility, have been suggested to be an underlying cause of metabolic disease, like type 2 diabetes. Long-term low fluid intake may increase the risk of type 2 diabetes due to insulin resistance, a form of metabolic inflexibility. Further, low fluid intake has been shown to impair the ability to switch fuel preference during exercise. While there is some evidence that low fluid intake may lead to impaired metabolic flexibility, more information is needed. Therefore, the purpose of this study is to evaluate the impact of hydration status on substrate preference at rest and during exercise at varying intensities (light and moderate). Further, we will examine whether biological sex and menstrual cycle phase impact hydration and metabolism under these same conditions.
The 3-arm intervention will be completed in females during both the follicular and luteal phases for a total of 13 visits including the medical screening. In males, the 3-arm intervention will be completed once for a total of 7 visits including the medical screening.
Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Purpose
OTHER
Masking
NONE
Enrollment
74
Perform steady-state cycling exercise for approximately 1 hour at 70-80% of maximal heart rate
24h after exercise trial, following assigned 24h hydration plan, perform indirect calorimetry followed by 30 min of light cycling (\~50% VO2 max) then 30 min of moderate-high cycling (\~80% VO2 max).
Gatorade Sports Science Institute
Valhalla, New York, United States
RECRUITINGUniversity Of Ontario Institute Of Technology
Oshawa, Ontario, Canada
RECRUITINGRespiratory Exchange Ratio
VCO2 / VO2 measured using indirect calorimetry measured by metabolic cart (Moxus or similar device) while exercising on cycle ergometer.
Time frame: Measured over the course of exercise bouts performed during the exercise and experimental trials. Compared across DEH, EUH-H2O, and EUH-Electrolyte arms.
Body Mass
kg
Time frame: Exercise Trial- following bladder void at baseline, post 1st and 2nd 30 min exercise sessions, and post 20 min rest Experimental Trial-following bladder void at baseline, post 10 min rest, post 1st and 2nd 30 min exercise sessions, and post 20 min rest
Plasma copeptin concentration
pmol/L
Time frame: Exercise trial- Post 10 min rest, pre-exercise bout. Experimental trial- Post 10 min rest, pre indirect calorimetry; post 1st and 2nd 30 min exercise bout; post 20 min rest.
Plasma osmolality
mOsm/kg
Time frame: Exercise trial- Post 10 min rest, pre-exercise bout. Experimental trial- Post 10 min rest, pre indirect calorimetry; post 1st and 2nd 30 min exercise bout; post 20 min rest.
Blood glucose
mg/dL
Time frame: At medical screening to determine eligibility. Exercise trial- Post 10 min rest, pre-exercise bout. Experimental trial- Post 10 min rest, pre indirect calorimetry; post 1st and 2nd 30 min exercise bout; post 20 min rest.
Blood lactate
mmol/L
Time frame: Exercise trial- Post 10 min rest, pre-exercise bout. Experimental trial- Post 10 min rest, pre indirect calorimetry; post 1st and 2nd 30 min exercise bout; post 20 min rest.
Peripheral blood mononuclear cell (PBMC) mitochondrial function
cells/uL
Time frame: Exercise trial- Post 10 min rest, pre-exercise bout. Experimental trial- Post 10 min rest, pre indirect calorimetry; post 1st and 2nd 30 min exercise bout; post 20 min rest.
Urine Specific Gravity
au
Time frame: Exercise Trial-baseline, post 1st and 2nd 30 min exercise sessions, and post 20 min rest Experimental Trial-baseline, post resting metabolism assessment, post 1st and 2nd 30 min exercise sessions, and post 20 min rest
Urine Osmolality
mOsm/kg
Time frame: Exercise Trial-baseline, post 1st and 2nd 30 min exercise sessions, and post 20 min rest Experimental Trial-baseline, post resting metabolism assessment, post 1st and 2nd 30 min exercise sessions, and post 20 min rest
Urine mass
g
Time frame: Exercise Trial-baseline, post 1st and 2nd 30 min exercise sessions, and post 20 min rest Experimental Trial-baseline, post resting metabolism assessment, post 1st and 2nd 30 min exercise sessions, and post 20 min rest
Urine Color
Scale of 1 (most hydrated) to 7 (most dehydrated)
Time frame: Exercise Trial-baseline, post 1st and 2nd 30 min exercise sessions, and post 20 min rest Experimental Trial-baseline, post resting metabolism assessment, post 1st and 2nd 30 min exercise sessions, and post 20 min rest
Fat and Carbohydrate Oxidation
resting metabolism measured by Cosmed Quark or similar device. Exercise metabolism measured by Moxus or similar device.
Time frame: Exercise Trial- resting metabolism assessed over 30 min rest period pre-exercise bout and exercise metabolism assessed over final 10 min of 1st and 2nd 30min exercise bout.
Energy Expenditure
kcal-resting metabolism measured by Cosmed Quark or similar device. Exercise metabolism measured by Moxus or similar device.
Time frame: Exercise Trial- resting metabolism assessed over 30 min rest period pre-exercise bout and exercise metabolism assessed over final 10 min of 1st and 2nd 30min exercise bout.
VO2 peak
mL/kg/min measured using indirect calorimetry (Moxus or similar device)
Time frame: Assessed at medical screening during a stress test with a 12-lead EKG on a cycle ergometer.
Fat and fat-free mass
kg measured using BodPod
Time frame: At medical screening to determine body composition
Fluid Intake
mL
Time frame: documented by subject on provided log for 24 hours prior to exercise and experimental trials. Exercise and Experimental Trial- DEH group restricted from fluid intake. EUH group fluid measured over duration of exercise bout (60 minutes).
Blood Pressure
systolic/diastolic (mmHg)
Time frame: Medical Screening to determine eligibility
Heart Rate
bpm
Time frame: At medical screening to determine eligibility. Throughout entire duration of each 90-120 min exercise trial. Throughout entire duration of 120-150 min of each experimental trial.
Standardized Exercise Intensity
W
Time frame: Every 10 min throughout entire duration of each 60 min exercise trial to reach 70-80% of VO2 max. Every 10 min throughout entire duration of each 60 min experimental trial to reach 50-80% of VO2 max.
Sweat Rate
\[Body mass loss (kg) + fluid intake (mL)\]/Duration of exercise (hr)
Time frame: Throughout entire duration of 60 min exercise bout of exercise trial. Throughout entire duration of 60 min exercise bout of each experimental trial.
Wearable Sensr Data
photoplethysmogram (PPG) waveform data- optical signals obtained from photoplethysmography, which measure blood volume changes in the microvascular bed of tissue.
Time frame: Continuous data collection over 24 hours from start of exercise trial through completion of experimental trial.
Rate of Perceived Exhaustion
Borg scale of rating of perceived exertion. Rated on a 6-20 scale from No exertion at all to maximal exertion.
Time frame: Every 10 min throughout entire duration of each (2x) 30 min exercise bout for each exercise trial. Every 10 min throughout entire duration of each (2x) 30 min exercise bout for each experimental trial.
Menstrual categorization
Current status (e.g., contraception, regular periods or not, etc.) tracked by physical log or an at-home menstrual cycle monitoring kit (Proov)
Time frame: After medical screening and one month prior to first study session
Adverse Events
Documented changes in health and symptoms
Time frame: Through study completion, an average of 3 weeks for male subjects and 8 weeks for female subjects.
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