For athletes: Ökotest criticizes composition of electrolyte preparations

In its position paper "Fluid Management in Sports," the German Nutrition Society (DGE) provides recommendations on fluid intake that directly impact electrolyte balance. "Both too little and too much fluid intake have negative effects or pose a health risk," the professional association explains. Ökotest followed these guidelines in its current issue and tested 25 electrolyte supplements in the laboratory . These include 18 dietary supplements and seven fortified foods.

The result: Many products contained less than the recommended 20 grams of carbohydrates per liter or too much sodium, chloride, calcium, magnesium, or potassium. Ökotest also criticized the addition of other substances such as vitamins and other minerals and trace elements, as well as controversial sweeteners and additives such as phosphates. Consumer advocates also found deficiencies in the labeling. "No provider manages to formulate its product according to the recommendations of the DGE or EU specifications—a poor performance," says Ökotest editor Annette Dohrmann.

No product achieved a rating above "satisfactory" and was deemed suitable as a sports drink. The "Frubiase Sport Orange" effervescent tablets and "Basica Sport" lemon-flavored drinking powder received particularly negative ratings of "unsatisfactory."

Ökotest makes it clear that only very ambitious athletes need more than water and quotes Dr. Hannes Müller from the board of the Federal Chamber of Pharmacists: "For recreational athletes, such special preparations are unnecessary." Ökotest recommends athletes drink isotonic or slightly hypotonic drinks such as fruit juice spritzers (with a pinch of table salt if sweating heavily) or unsweetened teas.