Postexercise rehydration: effect of Na(+) and volume on restoration of fluid spaces and cardiovascular function

Our purpose was to study the interaction between Na(+) content and fluid volume on rehydration (RH) and restoration of fluid spaces and cardiovascular (CV) function. Ten men completed four trials in which they exercised in a 35 degrees C environment until dehydrated by 2. 9% body mass, were rehydrated for 180 min, and exercised for an additional 20 min. Four RH regimens were tested: low volume (100% fluid replacement)-low (25 mM) Na(+) (LL), low volume-high (50 mM) Na(+) (LH), high volume (150% fluid replacement)-low Na(+) (HL), and high volume-high Na(+) (HH). Blood and urine samples were collected and body mass was measured before and after exercise and every hour during RH. Before and after the dehydration exercise and during the 20 min of exercise after RH, cardiac output was measured. Fluid compartment (intracellular and extracellular) restoration and percent change in plasma volume were calculated using the Cl(-) and hematocrit/Hb methods, respectively. RH was greater (P < 0.05) in HL and HH (102.0 +/- 15.2 and 103.7 +/- 14.7%, respectively) than in LL and LH (70.7 +/- 10.5 and 75.9 +/- 6.3%, respectively). Intracellular RH was greater in HL (1.12 +/- 0.4 liters) than in all other conditions (0.83 +/- 0.3, 0.69 +/- 0.2, and 0.73 +/- 0.3 liter for LL, LH, and HH, respectively), whereas extracellular RH (including plasma volume) was greater in HL and HH (1.35 +/- 0.8 and 1.63 +/- 0.4 liters, respectively) than in LL and LH (0.83 +/- 0.3 and 1.05 +/- 0.4 liters, respectively). CV function (based on stroke volume, heart rate, and cardiac output) was restored equally in all conditions. These data indicate that greater RH can be achieved through larger volumes of fluid and is not affected by Na(+) content within the range tested. Higher Na(+) content favors extracellular fluid filling, whereas intracellular fluid benefits from higher volumes of fluid with lower Na(+). Alterations in Na(+) and/or volume within the range tested do not affect the degree of restoration of CV function.