THE USE OF SPORTS DRINKS IN SPORTS AND FITNESS AMBIT

Introduction Sport drinks are beverages aimed at rehydrating the body, restoring the electrolytes (Na, K, Mg, Ca, Cl, P) and energy reinstatement (carbohydrates and other nutrients). As is well established in research5, the concentration of these substances decreases as a result of sustained strain and, in some cases, these can even finish and alter the organic functionality1,7. Sport drinks were born for the purpose of performance and are classified based on their concentration/litre in isotonic beverages (with an electrolytic composition more or less similar to body fluids [about 300 mOsm /L] with medium – rapid assimilation), hypotonic beverage (with an electrolytic composition lower than that of the body fluid, at rapid assimilation) and hypertonic beverages (with an electrolytic composition greater than the body fluid, with a slower assimilation to those mentioned previously)1. The first drinks to be widely marketed were those based on mineral salts (iso – hypo – hypertonic). Then, soft drinks containing high concentrations more or less of carbohydrates, proteins, lactate polymers, maltodextrins and caffeine conquered the global market; We should note that in Italy alone there are more than ten industries in this sector. Energy drinks ( literally beverages that give energy) are drinks of recent ideation and represent a subset of sports drinks and consist of soft drinks containing concentrations (single or in combination) more or less high in caffeine, B vitamins, herbs, guaranina, taurine, ginseng, inositol, carnitine, creatine, glucuronolactone, Ginkgo biloba, and others. The objective of this study was to conduct bibliographic research on sports drinks in order to obtain useful information and, accordingly, try to clarify some aspects concerning the physiological effects of the substances mentioned above, collect the scientific evidence, any contraindications and their optimal use.