Understanding the role of potassium on hydration and fluid balance
| ISRCTN | ISRCTN50989296 |
|---|---|
| DOI | https://doi.org/10.1186/ISRCTN50989296 |
| Secondary identifying numbers | N/A |
- Submission date
- 28/06/2016
- Registration date
- 29/06/2016
- Last edited
- 17/12/2019
- Recruitment status
- No longer recruiting
- Overall study status
- Completed
- Condition category
- Haematological Disorders
Plain English Summary
Background and study aims
The amount of different electrolytes (uncharged molecules such as potassium and sodium) of fluids drunk has a large impact on the amount of fluid retained by the body or excreted as urine (net fluid balance). There is a lot of evidence regarding improved net fluid balance responses with consumption of fluids particularly high in sodium, but there is now a greater focus on the role of high potassium (K+) drinks in triggering a positive fluid balance response. There have been a number of studies that have attempted to highlight the effectiveness of potassium consumption but the results have been open to interpretation, possibly due to the role of other drink components and the variability in the method of dehydration and/or rehydration. A previous study highlighted the potentially different hydration potential of certain commercial drinks with equal carbohydrate content yet different potassium content. Recently, there has been a lot of promotion for coconut water being effective for hydration due to their potassium content helping to maintain a positive fluid balance. However, studies conducted to date have shown no additional benefit to hydration status with coconut water consumption or high potassium containing drinks, and no study has systematically investigated the effects of consuming a range of potassium doses reflecting the composition of a range of commercial coconut water products. The aim of the study is to find out the best potassium content of ingested fluids for maintaining net fluid balance following consumption of fluids of increasing potassium content.
Who can participate?
Healthy, male University of Stirling students, aged 18-35
What does the study involve?
Participants are required to make four separate visits to the study centre. Before each study visit, participants are asked not to eat or drink anything for 12 hours and to avoid caffeine, alcohol or strenuous exercise for 24 hours. In addition, the night before each study visit, participants are asked to come to the laboratory to drink 500ml of bottled water over a two hour period before having their body mass when hydrated is measured using electric scales and through providing a urine sample. Participants are randomly allocated to drink one of four test drinks on each study visit. Upon arrival, body mass when dehydrated is then measured using electric scales before the participant drinks one litre (4 x 250ml) in 60 minutes of the test drink. The test drinks contain different concentrations of potassium, either 0mmol, 30mmol, 45mmol or 60mmol. Once the test drink has been consumed, participants are asked to provide urine samples at hourly intervals during a two hour observation period. Following the two hour observation period,a final body mass measurement is taken.
What are the possible benefits and risks of participating?
Participants benefit from receiving information about how their body processes the fluids they drink. As participants are required to drink one litre of potassium-containing fluid at a time, there is a risk of digestive discomfort or the urge to urinate more.
Where is the study run from?
Health and Exercise Sciences Research Group, The University of Stirling (UK)
When is study starting and how long is it expected to run for?
October 2015 to March 2016
Who is funding the study?
University of Stirling (UK)
Who is the main contact?
Dr Stuart Galloway
s.d.r.galloway@stir.ac.uk
Contact information
Scientific
Health and Exercise Sciences Research Group
University of Stirling
Stirling
FK9 4LA
United Kingdom
 ORCID ID |
0000-0002-1622-3044 |
|---|---|
| Phone | +44 1786 473171 |
| s.d.r.galloway@stir.ac.uk |
Study information
| Study design | Randomized cross-over design |
|---|---|
| Primary study design | Interventional |
| Secondary study design | Randomised cross over trial |
| Study setting(s) | Other |
| Study type | Other |
| Participant information sheet | Not available in web format, please use the contact details below to request a patient information sheet |
| Scientific title | A randomized trial assessing the impact of graded potassium content of beverages on restoration of fluid balance in adult males |
| Study hypothesis | A dose-response effect would be in evidence, whereby consumption of increased doses of potassium would result in an increased net potassium balance, eliciting an increased net Fluid Balance response. |
| Ethics approval(s) | University of Stirling Health and Exercise Science Research Group Ethics Committee, 22/12/2015, ref: #775 |
| Condition | Hydration status |
| Intervention | Participants attend the laboratory for four experimental trial days which are conducted in a single blind randomised cross-over fashion at the same time of day and exactly one week apart. On each of the trial days, participants arrive at the laboratory in the morning following a 12 hour period of food and fluid restriction to induce a mild hypohydration (~1-2% body mass loss). On arrival at the laboratory participants empty their bladder and bowels and a baseline urine sample is collected. This is followed by assessment of baseline near nude body mass. After collection of baseline samples, participants consume a fixed volume (1L) of an assigned drink over a 1 hour period (4 x 250ml boluses provided in 15 minute intervals). Participants consume one of four fresh laboratory-prepared drinks per trial with different potassium content: 0mM [K+] (0K; control), 30mM [K+] (30K), 45mM [K+] (45K) and 60mM [K+] (60K) respectively. The composition of the drinks ingested is based on a standardized 3% carbohydrate (dextrose) solution containing 5mM sodium (Na+). Participant's fluid balance (urine output and near nude body mass) is monitored immediately post drinking and at hourly intervals during a subsequent 2 hour follow-up observation period. Participants remain seated in the laboratory throughout the whole trial period. On completion of the follow-up period a final urine sample and near nude body mass assessment is taken before participants leave the laboratory. |
| Intervention type | Other |
| Primary outcome measure | 1. Net Fluid Balance assessed at hourly intervals during the 2 hour observation period (fluid consumed minus cumulative urine output) in each study visit 2. Hydration Index assessed using total urine output on control divided by total urine output at the culmination of the 2 hour observation period in each study visit |
| Secondary outcome measures | 1. Sodium and Potassium net balances (intake minus urine losses) is assessed immediately post-consumption and at hourly intervals following drink consumption for 2 hours on each trial day using the flame photometry method within 5 days of urine sample collection 2. Body Mass measurements are taken using electronic scales for comparison between participants' 'hypohydrated' body mass (pre-drink consumption) and body mass at the culmination of the 2 hour observation period (2 hours post-drink consumption) on each trial day 3. Urine osmolality is assessed using the freezing point depression method within 48 hours of urine sample collection at baseline (pre-drink consumption) and at hourly intervals following drink consumption for 2 hours on each trial day |
| Overall study start date | 05/10/2015 |
| Overall study end date | 31/07/2019 |
Eligibility
| Participant type(s) | Healthy volunteer |
|---|---|
| Age group | Adult |
| Lower age limit | 18 Years |
| Upper age limit | 35 Years |
| Sex | Male |
| Target number of participants | 12 (n=12 observations for all trials) |
| Total final enrolment | 20 |
| Participant inclusion criteria | 1. Healthy male volunteers 2. Aged 18-35 3. No known cardiovascular, renal or metabolic disease/disorder 4. Moderate activity level |
| Participant exclusion criteria | 1. Female participants 2. Participants currently taking diuretic and/or blood pressure medication 3. Previously/currently suffering from cardiovascular, renal or metabolic disease/disorder 4. Participants actively seeking to gain/lose weight |
| Recruitment start date | 11/01/2016 |
| Recruitment end date | 31/07/2019 |
Locations
Countries of recruitment
- Scotland
- United Kingdom
Study participating centre
Stirling
FK9 4LA
United Kingdom
Sponsor information
University/education
Health and Exercise Sciences Research Group
Stirling
FK9 4LA
Scotland
United Kingdom
| Phone | +44 1786 473171 |
|---|---|
| s.d.r.galloway@stir.ac.uk | |
| Website | www.stir.ac.uk |
"ROR" |
https://ror.org/045wgfr59 |
Funders
Funder type
University/education
Private sector organisation / Universities (academic only)
- Location
- United Kingdom
Results and Publications
| Intention to publish date | 31/07/2020 |
|---|---|
| Individual participant data (IPD) Intention to share | Yes |
| IPD sharing plan summary | Available on request |
| Publication and dissemination plan | Planned publication in a relevant nutritional journal. 2017 results presented at International Sports and Exercise Nutrition Conference 2017 |
| IPD sharing plan |
Editorial Notes
16/12/2019: The following changes have been made:
1. The total final enrolment number has been added.
2. The recruitment end date has been changed from 04/03/2016 to 31/07/2019.
3. The overall trial end date has been changed from 21/03/2016 to 31/07/2019.
4. The intention to publish date has been changed from 31/03/2017 to 31/07/2020.
5. The Publication and dissemination plan has been updated to include 2017 conference presentation.
13/12/2019: No publications found, verifying study status with principal investigator.
