Monitoring hydration status pre- and post-training among university athletes using urine color and weight loss indicators.

Objective: To investigate the hydration status pre- and post-training among university athletes using urine color and weight loss as indicators.

Participants: Participants were 52 university athletes training for campus games in a developing country.

Methods: Pre- and post-training urine specimens were compared with a standard urine color scale. Paired t tests were used to compare urine color and difference in body mass pre- and post-training.

Results: The mean age of the athletes was 22.87 ± 3.21. A statistically significance difference (p < .01) was observed between pre- (4.31 ± 1.75) and post- (5.67 ± 1.45) training urine color values for males. Hydration status and weight post-training were statistically significantly different both at the level of p < .01.

Conclusions: The results suggest that there is a link between urine color and body mass difference among the student athletes tested. Exercise increases hypohydration due to fluid losses, and therefore attention should be given to fluid supplementation and individualization of fluid intake for each athlete.