Role of Functional Beverages on Sport Performance and Recovery

Nutrients. 2018 Oct 10;10(10):1470. doi: 10.3390/nu10101470.

Abstract

Functional beverages represent a palatable and efficient way to hydrate and reintegrate electrolytes, carbohydrates, and other nutrients employed and/or lost during physical training and/or competitions. Bodily hydration during sporting activity is one of the best indicators of health in athletes and can be a limiting factor for sport performance. Indeed, dehydration strongly decreases athletic performance until it is a risk to health. As for other nutrients, each of them is reported to support athletes' needs both during the physical activity and/or in the post-workout. In this study, we review the current knowledge of macronutrient-enriched functional beverages in sport taking into account the athletes' health, sports performance, and recovery.

Keywords: CHO-enriched beverages; dehydration; functional beverages; hydration; lipid-enriched beverages; protein-enriched beverages; sports drinks.

Publication types

  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Athletic Performance / physiology*
  • Beverages*
  • Dehydration / physiopathology
  • Exercise / physiology
  • Functional Food / analysis*
  • Humans
  • Nutrients / analysis
  • Recovery of Function
  • Water-Electrolyte Balance / physiology

Substances

  • Nutrients