Gastrointestinal Implications of Post-Exercise Orange Juice Consumption

100% fruit juice (e.g., orange juice [OJ]) in 237 mL doses is considered 1 serving of fruit and generally recommended as a part of a healthy diet. Similar to commercially available sports drinks, 100% OJ contains water and electrolytes, but OJ has twice the amount of carbohydrates and is less acidic. 100% OJ could be a viable beverage after physical activity to promote rehydration and substrate replenishment, but the effects on gastrointestinal (GI) distress are not completely clear. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to compare 100% OJ to a more commonly consumed commercially available carbohydrate electrolyte beverage (CHO-E) and water after cycling in a thermal environment. Twentysix participants (22.1 ± 3.3 yrs; 72.9 ± 10.0 kg; 174.3 ± 7.9 cm) were included in this randomized, controlled, single-blind parallel group design. Participants cycled for 80 min in a thermal environment at a heart rate matched to 70% VO2max on 5 consecutive days. After each cycling session, participants consumed 237 mL of either OJ, CHO-E, or water. Participants then rested 1 h in an ambient environment. No significant differences occurred post-beverage ingestion between conditions for GI distress symptoms. At 1 h post-beverage consumption, the incidence of serious systemic GI distress symptoms (e.g., headache, urge to urinate) occurred 1.9% in water, 0.6% in CHO-E and 0% for OJ. Hydration, thirst, and palatability were also not significantly different between groups. Rehydration and substrate replenishment is important for recovery after prolonged and/or intense endurance exercise. Based on similar palatability, thirst-quenching, and GI distress scores compared to CHO-E and water, the results of this study suggest consuming 100% OJ could be a viable beverage option after exercise.