What happens in an overdose of electrolyte drinks?
Electrolyte drinks are nutrient drinks with a high concentration of dissolved salts such as magnesium, calcium, sodium or potassium compounds (i.e. electrolytes). Dissolved in water, they serve to supply electrolytes, water (rehydration) and calorie carriers such as glucose or low-molecular carbohydrates quickly. If the concentration of these drinks is too strong, they achieve exactly the opposite of what they are supposed to. Overdosed electrolyte drinks are hypertonic. They draw tissue water (together with the dissolved nutrients) into the intestinal region and cause electrolyte losses that are manifested by liquid stool or even diarrhoea.
