Effects of Alcohol Intake on Body Fluid Balance and Fat Mobilization After Exercise Induced Dehydration

To examine the effects of alcohol consumption on body fluid restoration and fat mobilization following exercise induced dehydration, nine healthy collegiate men ($24{\pm}2yrs,\;177{\pm}5cm,\;72{\pm}8kg,\;10.5{\pm}2.3%$ body fat) underwent three experiments. In each experiment, subjects ran on a treadmill to reduce individual body mass to $2.2{\pm}0.1%$ and consumed one of three beverages containing 0, 4, or 8% alcohol over 60 min followed by 4 hr of resting recovery. They consumed approximately 150% of weight loss $(2053{\pm}204,\;2091{\pm}149,\;and\;1943{\pm}295mL)$ and content of alcohol was $9.9{\pm}1.0(0%),\;71.9{\pm}5.1(4%)$, and $132.2{\pm}20.1g$ (8% trial). Body weight, urine volume and samples, blood samples, and thirst sensation were measured five times; at baseline, immediately after exercise, and 0, 1st, and 4th hr of recovery. Blood alcohol concentration after ingestion was $0.0{\pm}0.0(0%),\;0.1{\pm}0.02(4%)$, and $0.2{\pm}0.03%$ (8% trial). No differences in blood sodium and potassium concentrations, and urine specific gravity were noticed over time periods and trials. Thirst sensation tended to be elevated in all trials immediately after exercises and urine output was elevated during the recovery. The magnitude of changes in these variables was proportional to the alcohol concentrations, but not statistically significant. While serum osmolality was not different among trials and time periods in 0 and 4% trials, it was higher during recovery than the baseline in the 8% trial (P<0.01). Triglycerides did not change throughout the time period and among trials. Free fatty acids were elevated after exercise in all trials and 4th hr of recovery in 0% (P<0.05). Subjects' net body fluid balance at 4th hr of recovery was negatively maintained and proportional to alcohol concentrations. Only 8% trials showed a significant reduction at 1st and 4th hr of recovery compared to 0 hr. The results suggested that diuretic effect of alcohol after moderate level of dehydration appeared dose dependent, but beverage containing alcohol up to 4% did not induce impaired rehydration than alcohol free drinks. Alcohol effects on fat mobilization during recovery appeared to be minimal and the mechanism is unclear.