A 2001 Update . This event was sponsored by the Gatorade Sports Science Institute . The topic presenter was Dr. E. Randy Eichner, M.D., professor of medicine at the University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center, and team internist for the University of Oklahoma Sooners. High sodium diets have recently been linked to a number of health risks in many Americans. However, athletes must consider that due to their increased activity and excessive sweat production, they are actually at risk of having too little sodium in their blood stream during training and competition.
Athletes do indeed, have special sodium requirements.
Because sodium is lost in sweat, it is more important for individuals who exercise at high intensity to get adequate sodium before, during and after exercise. This is even more critical during ultra-endurance competition. Risks of Hyponatremia Hyponatremia, a low concentration of sodium in the blood, has become more prevalent in endurance athletes. The Hawaii Ironman Triathlon routinely sees finishers with low blood sodium concentrations. Adequate sodium balance is necessary for transmitting nerve impulses and proper muscle function, and even a slight depletion of this concentration can cause problems.