ABSTRACT
Introduction:
The use of sports drinks has been adopted in various forms in order to provide adequate hydration during physical activities. Green coconut water has been used as electrolyte replenishing due to its physicochemical composition, which is rich in minerals. Objective: To evaluate a sports drink based on powdered coconut water (ACP ) as from a blend of ACP with passion fruit pulp (Passiflora edulis S.), focused on the functional food market, aiming at improving the performance of amateur and professional athletes compared with an electrolytic replenishing already established in the market (passion fruit flavored Gatorade ).
Methods:
The experiment followed a completely rando-mized design in a factorial scheme 2 x 2 x 3 (2 genders x 2 drink types x 3 times a week) comparing the performance of two groups of athletes, five male athletes and five female athletes, as to the effectiveness of two hydroelectrolytic supplements (ACP with 20% passion fruit pulp and passion fruit flavored Gatorade ) on different days of the week (Monday, Wednesday and Friday).
Results:
ACP with passion fruit pulp showed results similar to the passion fruit flavored Gatorade in relation to blood plasma osmolarity of athletes, who experienced no loss of performance and more gastric comfort when hydrated with ACP with passion fruit pulp.
Conclusion:
The physiological responses show the efficiency of ACP with passion fruit pulp as a replenishing of electrolytes similar to Gatorade passion fruit flavored, the ACP with passion fruit pulp being, therefore, also appropriate to be used as a sports drink.
Keywords:
energy drinks; hydration; athletic performance; athletics; osmolality
