Effects of coconut sport gel on hydration measures, cognitive performance and anaerobic capacity in soccer players: a double‑blind, randomised, cross‑over study

Abstract

Purpose: This study examined the effects of coconut sports gel (CSG) on hydration measures, cognitive performance and anaerobic capacity in soccer players. Materials and Methods: Seven soccer players (age: 21 ± 1.6 years; body weight (BW): 63.2 ± 6.6 kg; height: 172.3 ± 6.0 cm; VO2 max: 52.8 ± 1.4 ml. kg. min−1) participated in this study. Participants underwent one preliminary testing and two experimental trials: CSG and placebo (PLA) separated at least 7 days apart. Each trial consisted of hydration measurements and two cognitive (concentration and reaction time [RT]) and anaerobic capacity (vertical jump [VJ] and repeated sprint ability [RSA]) tests at (i) baseline, (ii) dehydration and (iii) rehydration. A 90‑min exercise‑induced dehydration protocol was used to induce ~ 2.0% of BW loss after baseline testing. Participants were required to ingest either CSG (CHO: 26 g, K+: 381 mg) or PLA (CHO: 26 g, K+: 0 mg) at 1.2 g. kg−1 BW of CHO within 30 min in a randomised order and replenished plain water (100% BW loss) during the 120 min of recovery period. Results: The results showed that participants were rehydrated after 2 h of recovery. Participants regained their BW from dehydration to rehydration: 61.3 ± 6.5 kg to 62.7 ± 6.6 kg (CSG trial) (p < 0.001) and 61.4 ± 6.3 kg to 62.6 ± 6.4 kg (PLA trial) (p = 0.001). Urine‑specific gravity reduced from dehydration to rehydration: 1.0168 ± 0.0073–1.0082 ± 0.0068 (p = 0.019) and 1.0148 ± 0.0061–1.0108 ± 0.0054 (p = 0.286) in CSG and PLA trials, respectively. VJ and RSA performance were similar between trials and among time points (p > 0.05). The concentration scores, simple and choice RT tests showed no statistically significant difference in all time points between trials (p > 0.05). Conclusion: Cognitive performance and anaerobic capacity in soccer players were well maintained after rehydration. Therefore, CSG could be an alternative option for athletes for rehydration purposes.