Electrolyte Supplements Don’t Help Runners

Electrolyte supplements, often taken by marathoners and ultra-marathoners to keep sodium levels in balance, don’t do the trick, according to research conducted at Stanford University. A Stanford news release reports that when researchers at the school analyzed data from 266 ultra-marathoners after a 50 mile run, they found that 41 had sodium imbalances, 11 were found to have exercise-associated hyponatremia, or EAH, caused by too little sodium, and 30 were dehydrated, with too much sodium in their blood. The study’s lead author, Grant Lipman, professor of emergency medicine and director of Stanford University Wilderness Medicine, says the belief that electrolyte supplements prevent nausea and cramping caused by low salt levels “is a false paradigm.” The authors warned ultra runners to avoid overhydration, which can reduce electrolyte levels. They found that runners who had longer training distances and lower body mass were less likely to suffer from electrolyte imbalances.