The change in blood and plasma volume following ingestion of glucose solutions of varying concentrations was estimated in twelve healthy male volunteers. Subjects consumed, within a 5 min period, 600 ml of a solution containing 0, 2, 5 or 10 % glucose with osmolalities of 0 (sd 0), 111 (sd 1), 266 (sd 7) and 565 (sd 5) mOsm/kg, respectively. Blood samples were collected over the course of 1 h after ingestion at intervals of 10 min. After ingestion of the 2 % glucose solution, plasma volume increased from baseline levels at 20 min. Plasma volume decreased from baseline levels at 10 and 60 min after ingestion of the 10 % glucose solution. Heart rate was elevated at 10 and 60 min after ingestion of the 10 % glucose solution and decreased at 30 and 40 min after ingestion of the 2 % glucose solution relative to the average heart rate recorded before drinking. It is concluded that ingestion of hypertonic, energy-dense glucose solutions results in a decrease in plasma and extracellular fluid volume, most likely due to the net secretion of water into the intestinal lumen.