Effect of Coconut Water on Hydration Status in Pediatric Population

Introduction: The dehydration is a very common problem that is often not identified. The pediatric population is more susceptible to dehydration due to its physiological characteristics. Proper hydration is crucial for health since any degree of dehydration causes a reduction in physical and mental work capacity, hence the importance of preventing it by considering the type of drink. There are multiple beverage options, including industrial oral electrolytes (OE), on the other hand, coconut water (CW) has been studied as a natural alternative beverage with characteristics that can help maintain a state of euhydration. Objective: To determine if AC has a greater effect on hydration status than OE in adolescents who perform physical exercise. Material and methods: RCT, double blind. 34 subjects aged 13.02 ± 1.08 years were selected, assigned to treatment with either OE (Electrolit®) or CW. They received a weekly physical exercise session (4 weeks). Hydration was personalized (ml x kilograms of weight) and hydration was evaluated by Urine Specific Gravity (USG), Total Body Water (TBW) by bioimpedance and changes in body mass. Results: There were no significant differences in hydration in the first 3 exercise sessions (p\>0.05), however, in the last session there was a significant difference between treatments (p=0.003). Conclusion: AC and OE have the same effect on hydration levels in adolescents who perform physical exercise.