Hydralyte vs Hydralyte Sports
Comparison of the electrolyte tablets (I analysed the lemon lime flavour):
Ingredients:
Hydralyte Sports:
Per tablet:
Glucose: 2g
Citric acid: 535mg
Sodium from sodium chloride: 102.28mg (equivalent of ~40mg sodium)
Potassium from potassium chloride: 58.8mg
Magnesium from dried magnesium sulphate: 4.83mg
Calcium from calcium carbonate: 8mg
Zinc from zinc sulfate monohydrate: 200ug
Iron from ferrous sulfate: 100ug
Copper from copper gluconate: 30ug
Manganese from manganese sulfate monohydrate: 50ug
Contains: natural flavour, natural colour, sucralose.
Hydralyte:
Per tablet
Glucose: 1.62g
Citric acid: 672mg
Sodium from sodium chloride: 34.5mg (equivalent of ~13mg sodium)
Potassium from potassium chloride: 78mg
Sodium from sodium bicarbonate: 103.5mg (equivalent of ~27mg sodium)
Contains: sugars, sucralose, mannitol.
Summary:
We can see that Hydralyte Sports contains virtually the same amount of glucose as Hydralyte (2g vs 1.62g, respectively). However, Hydralyte Sports contains much more sodium chloride compared to hydralyte (102mg vs 34.5mg, respectively). Hydralyte Sports also contains many more minerals in general, as compared to Hydralyte, including magnesium, calcium, zinc, iron, copper and manganese.
Sodium chloride is the main mineral lost in sweat. Given the greater amount of sodium chloride in Hydralyte Sports, as well as the additional minerals (all of which can be lost in sweat), Hydralyte Sports is a superior product to Hydralyte when it comes to athletes looking for a superior hydration/rehydration option.
Overall Hydralyte actually contains the same amount of actual sodium as Hydralyte Sports (both products contain ~40mg of actual sodium) as Hydralyte also contains sodium in the form of sodium bicarbonate. Sodium bicarbonate is a type of sodium more commonly used in products designed to replace electrolytes during diarrhea. This is primarily to manage acidosis, a metabolic complication of diarrhea.
Both Hydralyte Sports and Hydralyte are sweetened by artificial sweeteners so these drinks may not sit well for some with irritable bowel syndrome, depending on their specific intolerances.
If you would like to know more about Hydralyte, you can visit their website here.
Please note: I accept no sponsorship deals from food or supplement companies and I never will. This is not an endorsed product review/post.