Effects of Sports-Hydration Drink on Infantry Soldiers

A randomised cross over design was employed. Phase 1 (4 days) Group A participants received the active treatment (EXP) while Group B followed their usual hydration practices (CON). Usual hydration practices consisted of unrestricted access to plain water and the availability of hot beverages (e.g. tea and coffee), fruit juices and flavored water at the messing facility during meal times. Phase 2 (3 days) No active treatment employed. Phase 3 (4 days) Group B received the active treatment (EXP) while Group A followed their usual hydration practices (CON). Intervention (EXP treatment) Participants were given a beverage the night before each training mission and instructed to drink the “preparation beverage” at least 6 hours before training the next day. The preparation beverage was 350 mL of PREPD Hydration® Prime (PREPD Hydration, Adelaide Australia) containing 34 g of High Amylose Maize Starch (HAMS) and was consumed on days 1 and 3 of study Phase 1; and days 8 and 10 of study Phase 3. At least 30 minutes after the end of the training mission, participants were instructed to drink the “recovery beverage”, specifically 700 mL beverages of PREPD Hydration® Recover containing 34 g of HAMS. The recovery beverage was consumed on days 2 and 4 of study Phase 1; and days 9 and 11 of study Phase 3. Beverages were consumed under observation by a team of military nutrition researchers with over 20 years experience conducting research with the Australian Defence Force. All beverage containers were returned to the researchers for weighing to estimate the amounts consumed and compliance with the EXP treatment. The beverages provided to participants are commercially available (PREPD Hydration, Adelaide, Australia). They do not contain any allergens and are certified by Human and Supplement Testing Australia (HASTA), having been tested by the manufacturers for over 200 World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) banned substances.