Optimizing hydration in Chinese youth taekwondo athletes: evidence-based daily and training session-specific fluid intake recommendations.
5 affiliations
- 1Department of Sport Biochemistry, School of Sport Science, Beijing Sport University, Beijing, China.
- 2Beijing Research Institute of Sports Science, Beijing, China.
- 3Changping No. 2 High School Education Group Yuzhi School, Beijing, China.
- 4Xi'an University of Architecture and Technology, Xi'an, China.
- 5Laboratory of Sports Stress and Adaptation of General Administration of Sport, Beijing, China.
Abstract
Background
Adequate hydration is crucial for athletic performance and health, particularly in adolescent athletes with distinct physiological demands. Comprehensive data on the daily and training-specific hydration status of populations like Chinese youth taekwondo athletes remain limited, hindering evidence-based strategy development.Objective
This study aimed to rigorously evaluate the daily and training session hydration status of taekwondo athletes in the Chinese youth team.Methods
This study evaluated the daily and training session hydration status of 58 Chinese youth taekwondo athletes (30 males, 28 females; age 17.7 ± 2.2 years) over a 7-day period. Assessment included 24-h rehydration behavior, daily fluid intake surveys, and objective hydration indices (urine osmolality, specific gravity, sweat ion concentrations).Results
A significant prevalence of suboptimal hydration, with 48.3% of athletes demonstrating persistent dehydration (defined as urine specific gravity >1.020 and urine osmolality ≥800 mOsm/kg) throughout the entire 7-day period. Median daily fluid intake for male athletes was 27.98 mL/kg BM, and for female athletes was 29.70 mL/kg BM; both values were below the daily fluid replacement volume of urine specific gravity ≤ 1.020 subjects for this athletic population. Training sessions significantly exacerbated dehydration, evidenced by elevated post-session urine specific gravity and osmolality of technical/tactical training session (P<0.05), alongside substantial median body mass loss rate of 2.51% for technical/tactical, 2.16% for physical fitness, and 1.97% for strength training sessions.Conclusion
This study identifies inadequate daily and training-induced hydration in Chinese youth taekwondo athletes. Based on the median values observed in euhydrated athletes in our cohort, daily fluid intake >30.35 mL/kg BM/day for males and >32.63 mL/kg BM/day for females on training days, alongside a training session intake of 1.87-2.78 mL/kg BM/h, may support maintenance of optimal hydration. However, total intake volume alone does not guarantee euhydration; beverage composition, timing of consumption, and pre-training hydration status are also important factors.
Related
- Short-term Rhodiola rosea supplementation improves premenstrual symptoms, reaction time, and perceived exertion in female taekwondo athletes: a randomised double-blind placebo-controlled trial
- Caffeine Intake and Performance Outcomes in Taekwondo Athletes: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis
- Evaluation of a Wearable Hydration Monitor for Estimating Sweat Loss and Hydration Status in Collegiate Athletes: A Pilot Study
- Effects of plyometric vs. traditional resistance training on kick performance and anaerobic power in elite taekwondo athletes.
- Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation and Cranial Electrotherapy Stimulation in Athletes: Optimizing Athletic Performance and Sleep Quality Through Neuromodulation
BibTeX
@article{song2026optimizing,
title = {{Optimizing hydration in Chinese youth taekwondo athletes: evidence-based daily and training session-specific fluid intake recommendations.}},
author = {Ge Song and Yue Chen and Jiaqi Li and Xinliang Pan and Hongtao Sui and Jianhao Chen and Yihsuan Lin and Yi Yan},
journal = {Frontiers in nutrition},
year = {2026},
month = oct,
doi = {10.3389/fnut.2026.1923019},
url = {https://europepmc.org/article/MED/42947958},
note = {CC BY},
}
RIS
TY - JOUR
TI - Optimizing hydration in Chinese youth taekwondo athletes: evidence-based daily and training session-specific fluid intake recommendations.
AU - Ge Song
AU - Yue Chen
AU - Jiaqi Li
AU - Xinliang Pan
AU - Hongtao Sui
AU - Jianhao Chen
AU - Yihsuan Lin
AU - Yi Yan
PY - 2026
DA - 2026/10/13
JO - Frontiers in nutrition
DO - 10.3389/fnut.2026.1923019
UR - https://europepmc.org/article/MED/42947958
AB - Background Adequate hydration is crucial for athletic performance and health, particularly in adolescent athletes with distinct physiological demands. Comprehensive data on the daily and training-specific hydration status of populations like Chinese youth taekwondo athletes remain limited, hindering evidence-based strategy development.Objective This study aimed to rigorously evaluate the daily and training session hydration status of taekwondo athletes in the Chinese youth team.Methods This study evaluated the daily and training session hydration status of 58 Chinese youth taekwondo athletes (30 males, 28 females; age 17.7 ± 2.2 years) over a 7-day period. Assessment included 24-h rehydration behavior, daily fluid intake surveys, and objective hydration indices (urine osmolality, specific gravity, sweat ion concentrations).Results A significant prevalence of suboptimal hydration, with 48.3% of athletes demonstrating persistent dehydration (defined as urine specific gravity >1.020 and urine osmolality ≥800 mOsm/kg) throughout the entire 7-day period. Median daily fluid intake for male athletes was 27.98 mL/kg BM, and for female athletes was 29.70 mL/kg BM; both values were below the daily fluid replacement volume of urine specific gravity ≤ 1.020 subjects for this athletic population. Training sessions significantly exacerbated dehydration, evidenced by elevated post-session urine specific gravity and osmolality of technical/tactical training session (P<0.05), alongside substantial median body mass loss rate of 2.51% for technical/tactical, 2.16% for physical fitness, and 1.97% for strength training sessions.Conclusion This study identifies inadequate daily and training-induced hydration in Chinese youth taekwondo athletes. Based on the median values observed in euhydrated athletes in our cohort, daily fluid intake >30.35 mL/kg BM/day for males and >32.63 mL/kg BM/day for females on training days, alongside a training session intake of 1.87-2.78 mL/kg BM/h, may support maintenance of optimal hydration. However, total intake volume alone does not guarantee euhydration; beverage composition, timing of consumption, and pre-training hydration status are also important factors.
SN - 2296-861X
ER -