Carbohydrate loading drinks containing fructose used days prior to an event would give the body time to produce more glycogen. According to research, performance improvement associated with carbohydrate beverages occurs when the athlete consumes at least 25-30 grams of carbohydrate each hour. The electrolyte requirements of most physically active people can be more than adequately met by consuming a balanced diet. Imbalances may occur under special circumstances such as during the initial stage of acclimation to a hot environment, during prolonged repeated exposure to exercise and heat, and during exercise lasting several hours. Among the important electrolytes are sodium, chloride, potassium, magnesium and calcium, which are often included in glucose-containing electrolyte drinks.
Sodium helps maintain proper body fluid volume.
Small amounts of sodium improve water and glucose absorption in the body. Glucose electrolyte solutions maintain body fluid balance better than glucose drinks alone. Sodium also plays an important role in muscle contraction and in the condition of nerve impulses. A slight deficiency of sodium may impair performance, cause nausea, vomiting, headache, loss of appetite, muscular weakness and leg and abdominal cramps. If a high carbohydrate diet precedes athletic activity, the type of sports drink ingested has no affect on performance improvement.