Influence of acute fluid loading on stress-induced hemoconcentration and cardiovascular reactivity

The goal of this study was to assess the possible attenuating effects of oral fluid loading on hematological and hemodynamic factors during acute psychological stress in two separate experiments: Experiment 1 assessed the effects of hypotonic fluid loading (water) and Experiment 2 assessed the effects of isotonic fluid loading (Gatorade). Twenty-eight participants were recruited for Experiment 1, and 28 participants were recruited for Experiment 2. Participants for each experiment completed two test sessions, once in a hypo-hydrated condition (following 12-h fast) and once in a fluid loaded condition (hypotonic or isotonic fluid). During each session, hematocrit (Hct), hemoglobin (Hgb), calculated plasma volume (CPV), heart rate (HR), systolic blood pressure (SBP), diastolic blood pressure (DBP), cardiac output (CO), stroke volume (SV), and total peripheral resistance (TPR) were assessed during a 10-min resting baseline period, 6-min mental arithmetic (MA) task, and a 16-min recovery period. Results for Experiment 1 revealed that the fluid load condition Hct, Hgb, and HR levels were significantly lower in comparison to the hypo-hydration condition, and that Hct, Hgb, and CPV reactivity was greater during the fluid load condition. Results for Experiment 2 revealed that Hct, Hgb, and TPR were lower and CPV, SBP, SV, and CO were higher during the fluid load condition compared to the hypo-hydration condition and that HR, CO, and TPR reactivity was greater during the fluid load condition. Finally, analytic comparisons between the two fluid types revealed that SV and CO levels were significantly greater at baseline and during MA when isotonic fluid was ingested compared to hypotonic fluid ingestion.