A review of risk factors and prevention strategies for exercise associated hyponatremia

Adam D Seal; Stavros A Kavouras

doi:10.1016/j.autneu.2021.102930

A review of risk factors and prevention strategies for exercise associated hyponatremia

Auton Neurosci. 2022 Mar:238:102930. doi: 10.1016/j.autneu.2021.102930. Epub 2021 Dec 21.

Authors

Adam D Seal¹, Stavros A Kavouras²

Affiliations

¹ Center for Health Research, Kinesiology and Public Health, California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo, CA, USA.
² Hydration Science Lab, College of Health Solutions, Arizona State University, Phoenix, AZ, USA. Electronic address: stavros.kavouras@asu.edu.

PMID: 35016044
DOI: 10.1016/j.autneu.2021.102930

Abstract

Exercise-associated hyponatremia (EAH) is defined as a serum sodium concentration under 135 mmol·L^-1 during or within 24 h of exercise. Increasing interest in endurance events has led to a higher number of athletes presenting with this potentially life-threatening condition. EAH is largely caused by the overconsumption of hypotonic fluids leading to weight gain during exercise. The primary risk factors include the inappropriate secretion of arginine vasopressin, longer exercise duration, smaller body mass, and to smaller extent ingestion of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs. Accurate tracking of fluid intake and losses to prevent weight gain during exercise, sodium supplementation, and heat acclimatization may help attenuate declines in serum sodium concentration during exercise.

Keywords: Cramps; Hyponatremia; Salt intake.

Publication types

Review