Hydration Status and Acute Kidney Injury Biomarkers in NCAA Female Soccer Athletes During Preseason Conditioning

TL;DR

This study examined hydration and kidney injury markers in female soccer athletes during preseason training in warm conditions.

Contribution

The study provides new insights into how hydration and training in warm environments affect AKI biomarkers in young athletes.

Findings

Athletes remained euhydrated throughout the preseason, as indicated by stable urine specific gravity.

Urine creatinine and cystatin C levels increased, approaching AKI thresholds during some training sessions.

No significant changes were observed in neutrophil gelatinase-associated lipocalin levels.

Abstract

Exercise training in extreme temperatures concurrent with hypohydration status may potentiate the development of acute kidney injury (AKI) in young, healthy persons. Background/Objectives: It is unknown how repeated training bouts in ambient higher temperatures and humidity may influence measures of AKI. The purpose of this study was to investigate hydration status and renal biomarkers related to AKI in NCAA Division I female soccer athletes during preseason conditioning. Methods: A convenience sample of n = 21 athletes were recruited (mean ± SEM; age: 19.3 ± 0.25 y; height: 169.6 ± 1.36 cm; mass: 68.43 ± 2.46 kg; lean body mass: 45.91 ± 1.13 kg; fat mass: 22.51 ± 1.69 kg; body fat %: 32.22 ± 1.32%). The average temperature was 27.43 ± 0.19 °C, and the humidity was 71.69 ± 1.82%. Body composition, anthropometric, workload, and 14 urine samples were collected throughout the preseason training period for urine specific gravity (USG), creatinine (uCr), cystatin C (uCyst-C), and neutrophil gelatinase-associated lipocalin (uNGAL) analyses. Results: Our investigation showed that, when compared to baseline (D0), the athletes maintained a USG-average euhydrated status (1.019 ± 0.001) and were euhydrated prior to each exhibition game (D5-Pre: p = 0.03; 1.011 ± 0.001; D10-Pre: p = 0.0009; 1.009 ± 0.001); uCr was elevated on D8 (p = 0.001; 6.29 ± 0.44 mg·dL−1·LBM−1) and D10-Post (p = 0.02; 6.61 ± 0.44 mg·dL−1·LBM−1); uCyst-C was elevated on D6 through D10 (p = 0.001; ~0.42 ± 0.01 mg·dL−1); no differences were found in uNGAL concentration. The highest distance (m) displaced was found during exhibition games (D5: p = <0.0001; ~8.6 km and D10: p = <0.0001; ~9.6 km). During the preseason conditioning, the athletes maintained a euhydrated status (~1.019) via USG, an increase in uCr that averaged within a normal range (208 mg·dL−1), and an increase in uCyst-C to near AKI threshold levels (0.42 mg·L−1) for several practice sessions, followed by an adaptive decline. No differences were found in uNGAL, which may be explained by athlete variation, chosen time sample collection, and variation in training and hydration status. Conclusions: The athletes maintained a euhydrated status, and this may help explain why urinary markers did not change or meet the reference threshold for AKI.

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