Got Beer? A Systematic Review of Beer and Exercise

Document Type

Article

Publication Date

2021

DOI

10.1123/ijsnem.2021-0064

Publication Title

International Journal of Sport Nutrition and Exercise Metabolism

Volume

31

Issue

5

Pages

438-450

Abstract

Beer is used to socialize postexercise, celebrate sport victory, and commiserate postdefeat. Rich in polyphenols, beer has antioxidant effects when consumed in moderation, but its alcohol content may confer some negative effects. Despite beer's popularity, no review has explored its effects on exercise performance, recovery, and adaptation. Thus, a systematic literature search of three databases (PubMed, SPORTDiscus, and Web of Science) was conducted by two reviewers. The search resulted in 16 studies that were appraised and reviewed. The mean PEDro score was 5.1. When individuals are looking to rehydrate postexercise, a low-alcohol beer (4%), it is advised to pair this with a nonalcoholic option to limit diuresis, particularly when relatively large volumes of fluid (>700 ml) are consumed. Adding Na+ to alcoholic beer may improve rehydration by decreasing fluid losses, but palatability may decrease. These conclusions are largely based on studies that standardized beverage volume, and the results may not apply equally to situations where people ingest fluids and food ad libitum. Ingesting nonalcoholic, polyphenol-rich beer could be an effective strategy for preventing respiratory infections during heavy training. If consumed in moderation, body composition and strength qualities seem largely unaffected by beer. Mixed results that limit sweeping conclusions are owed to variations in study design (i.e., hydration and exercise protocols). Future research should incorporate exercise protocols with higher ecological validity, recruit more women, prioritize chronic study designs, and use ad libitum fluid replacement protocols for more robust conclusions.

Comments

© 2021 Human Kinetics

Original Publication Citation

Wynne, J. L., & Wilson, P. B. (2021). Got beer? A systematic review of beer and exercise. International Journal of Sport Nutrition and Exercise Metabolism, 31(5), 438-450. https://doi.org/10.1123/ijsnem.2021-0064

ORCID

0000-0003-4052-5023 (Wilson)

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