EFFECTIVENESS OF SODIUM INTAKE AMONG ATHLETES: A COMPREHENSIVE SYSTEMATIC REVIEW
Author(s)
Haripriya R. Mohan, Masters1, Christy Thomas, Phd1, Muhammed Rashid, Post doctoral2, Jaseela T. N.k, Masters1, Krishna Undela, Phd1;
1NIPER Guwahati Assam, Pharmacy Practice, Guwahati, India, 2University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT, USA
1NIPER Guwahati Assam, Pharmacy Practice, Guwahati, India, 2University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT, USA
OBJECTIVES: Though many studies support sodium intake among athletes for various reasons, evidence of its effectiveness remains inconclusive. Sodium plays a vital role in fluid balance and thermoregulation, and its depletion during intense or prolonged exercise can lead to serious outcomes such as exercise-associated hyponatremia. This systematic review evaluates current evidence on sodium intake to better understand its role in preventing performance decline and heat-related illness in athletic populations. The aim is to clarify the role of sodium products among athletes.
METHODS: A comprehensive literature search was conducted in PubMed, Scopus, Embase, and Cochrane from inception to January 2025. Interventional and observational studies assessing the effect of sodium or its products in any type of athlete were included. Improved athletic performance and reduced heat-related illness were primary outcomes, while adverse effects were secondary. The Cochrane Risk of Bias Tool-2 and Newcastle-Ottawa Scale were used for quality assessment of RCTs and observational studies.
RESULTS: A total of 19 out of 792 studies were considered for this systematic review. Studies were published between 1994 and 2024, with a major contribution from Spain, followed by UK and Switzerland. The sodium products containing NaHCO3, NaCl, Sodium citrate, Sodium lactate, NaNO3, Sodium pyruvate, and Dietary sodium in the form of a solution, capsule, sports drink, tablet, or diet products were considered across the studies. Overall, the studies had a good quality. Though studies reported a beneficial effect in terms of average time to complete the race, cycling velocity, time to exhaustion, reducing tympanic body temperature, and post-exercise muscle reduction, all other outcomes were not promising.
CONCLUSIONS: Current evidence is insufficient to support clear recommendations on sodium use in athletes. Personalized strategies tailored to individual needs are advisable for better outcomes. Further research is needed to address existing gaps.
METHODS: A comprehensive literature search was conducted in PubMed, Scopus, Embase, and Cochrane from inception to January 2025. Interventional and observational studies assessing the effect of sodium or its products in any type of athlete were included. Improved athletic performance and reduced heat-related illness were primary outcomes, while adverse effects were secondary. The Cochrane Risk of Bias Tool-2 and Newcastle-Ottawa Scale were used for quality assessment of RCTs and observational studies.
RESULTS: A total of 19 out of 792 studies were considered for this systematic review. Studies were published between 1994 and 2024, with a major contribution from Spain, followed by UK and Switzerland. The sodium products containing NaHCO3, NaCl, Sodium citrate, Sodium lactate, NaNO3, Sodium pyruvate, and Dietary sodium in the form of a solution, capsule, sports drink, tablet, or diet products were considered across the studies. Overall, the studies had a good quality. Though studies reported a beneficial effect in terms of average time to complete the race, cycling velocity, time to exhaustion, reducing tympanic body temperature, and post-exercise muscle reduction, all other outcomes were not promising.
CONCLUSIONS: Current evidence is insufficient to support clear recommendations on sodium use in athletes. Personalized strategies tailored to individual needs are advisable for better outcomes. Further research is needed to address existing gaps.
Conference/Value in Health Info
2026-05, ISPOR 2026, Philadelphia, PA, USA
Value in Health, Volume 29, Issue S6
Code
CO120
Topic
Clinical Outcomes
Topic Subcategory
Comparative Effectiveness or Efficacy
Disease
No Additional Disease & Conditions/Specialized Treatment Areas