Dextrose trouble!

[NU_nutrition_TS]

Stomach cramping and diarrhoea are known side-effects from hypertonic drinks.

Most people are familiar with hypotonic drinks - these are drinks that are said to re-hydrate you better than water (!) and usually contain a little carbohydrate - usually in the form of long-chain carbohydrate polymers - and electrolyte salts. The idea is to reduce osmolality of the fluid so that it will pass through the stomach wall faster than water alone. They are often advertised as the ideal re-hydration fluid for athletes and sports-people.

Obviously the more solutes present (sugar/salts) the higher the osmolality and the less likely the fluid will pass through the stomach wall any quicker than pure water. This is a hypertonic drink.

The carbs in a hypotonic drink are normally no more than 4g per 100 ml while a hypertonic drink can have 8g of carbs per 100ml. So it depends how much water you mixed your 50g of dextrose with - if it was 1.25 litres, this would make it hypotonic but if it was only half that - 625ml or thereabouts - or even less, then this would make it hypertonic and may explain the reaction you had later!

[MiniHulk]

It is my understanding that coconut water would supply much better hydration than water.

[NU_nutrition_TS]

Well, coconut water has a very similar make-up to blood plasma and was used for emergency transfusions in battlefield situations.

We get about two thirds of our daily fluid requirements from the food we eat (IIRC). As food passes through the digestive system, the water is extracted through the gut wall and the remainder should pass as a soft but solid stool. If the osmolality is detrimentally changed, then the fluid will not be extracted as efficiently before the waste reaches the bowel and we end up with more fluid stools and pass it as diarrhoea. I'm guessing that, in the case of the OP, the addition of dextrose and electrolyte salts in too great a concentration (for the volume of water) had this effect on the stomach contents and they worked themselves through the digestive tract with most of the fluid intact - hence the diarrhoea 5 hours later!

Here is a reply to an article regarding diarrhoea in toddlers and what to give them for re-hydration:

Quote

I am a research chemist and recently completed testing on over 30 Infant Rehydration Products, [Pedialyte, Liquilite, etc] and almost 100 sports drinks. I am not connected with any company. The osmolality directly relates to the liquids intestinal absorption. The blood is 282-295. Liquids that are hypertonic, too high in sugar, have an osmolality over 300 and are absorbed slower and if too high may even increase the diarrhea. Gerber Liquilyte unflavored, osmol 256, had the best taste of the unflavoreds. Gerber Liquilyte apple, osmol 272, had the best taste of all. Fruit Flavor: Eckerd 269; Walmart 262; Apple Pedialyte 279; Bubble Gum: Eckerd 269, Pedialyte 273; Grape: Eckerd 260, and Walmart 259, were also fine both in terms of osmolality and taste. 26% of the tested products had osmolalities over 310 and 2 products exceeded 400! Average Gatorade osmolality is 374, and it has HFCS and dyes. Fructose can increase diarrhea, that is why apple juice should never be used.
posted 1/23/2008 by a BabyCenter Member

Not directly related to sports drinks - but explains the science of hypotonic, isotonic and hypertonic drinks, osmolality, hydration and diarrhoea.

[Coops-uk]

Hello all, I took your advice and tried the original (MP recommended dose) of 50 grams of dextrose and 800mg of electrolytes. I woke up and had a impact whey protein shake with 5 grams of creatine and 5 grams of glutamine. I had it when I woke up as I did not cycle today. I then had breakfast and waited half an hour and had the dextrose drink with 750ml of water and everything was fine! I am not sure why it was not good the other day but now it seems fine but thank you for all your help and great advice.