Review findings
In the sports drink group there was a significant decrease in plasma β-hydroxybutyrate (MD −0.63
[95% CI −0.85 to −0.42]) and non-esterified fatty acids (MD −0.36 [95% CI −0.46 to −0.25])
when compared with the water-only group. Mean plasma glucose remained unchanged in the
sports drink group, but decreased significantly in the water-only group (MD 0.76 mmol/l [95% CI
0.22 to 1.3 mmol/l]). The total quantity of liquid consumed was significantly higher (P = 0.001)
in the sports drink group. The mean calorific intake was also higher for the sports drink group
(47 kcal/hour (SD 16 kcal/hour) compared with the water-only group (0 kcal/hour). However,
there was no significant difference in gastric antral cross-sectional area (MD −0.63 cm² [95% CI
−1.12 to 0.70 cm²]), volume vomited within 1 hour of giving birth (MD 65 ml [95% CI −141 to
271 ml]) or volume vomited throughout labour (MD 66 ml [95% CI −115 to 246 ml]), when the
two groups were compared. There was no difference between the two groups with respect to
duration of labour, use of oxytocin, mode of giving birth or use of epidural analgesia. The study
authors only presented the data as mean (SD) or proportion (%), but noted that all results were
non-significant.