Collegiate female basketball players maintained better skill performance and visual reaction time using water mixed with Sustamine—an ingredient from Kyowa Hakko that works on multiple levels to help rehydrate the body and sustain energy levels during exertion—compared to plain water, according to a University of Central Florida clinical study published in the Journal of the International Society of Sports Nutrition.

The study included 10 players with collegiate experience, including current and former Division I athletes, and was conducted in four trials at the Orlando university. Each trial consisted of a 40-minute basketball game with controlled timeouts for rehydration. During the first game, players could not rehydrate, followed by the three contests where players could consume only water or water with Sustamine at two different doses. They were measured for weight loss, concentration and visual reaction time.

Players lost approximately 2.3% of body mass during the trial where no fluids were given. Their jumping power remained strong, but shooting accuracy and visual reaction time showed tendency to be impaired, according to the study.

A 12.5% difference in shooting performance was noted between the trial where no hydration was allowed and the one where players drank 1 gram of Sustamine in 500 milliliters of water and an 11% increase was seen between the Sustamine trial and the one where only water was consumed. For further information: www.kyowa-usa.com