

One study determined that Gatorade was as effective as Pedialyte at treating dehydration among 75 adults with a viral digestive infection ( 8). In these cases, oral rehydration solutions are considered a first-line treatment, especially among children, who have a higher risk of severe dehydration ( 6, 7). Symptoms of the stomach flu and other viruses often include diarrhea and vomiting, which may result in fluid losses and electrolyte imbalances, potentially leading to dehydration ( 6, 7). Dehydration from stomach flu and other viruses People tend to look to Pedialyte and Gatorade for three main purposes: to help them recover from the stomach flu and other viruses, to promote their athletic performance, and to cure a hangover. Is one better than the other for common uses? Pedialyte may help people of all ages recover from viruses, while Gatorade is specifically designed for adult athletes. Pedialyte products generally provide fewer calories and sugar and a significantly higher electrolyte content than Gatorade. In contrast, Gatorade is recommended for adults, specifically athletes, and it’s meant to meet their athletic needs. It’s often recommended to people recovering from the stomach flu, other viruses, and athletes. Pedialyte is intended to rehydrate people of all ages, from toddlers to adults. Still, they were designed to provide hydration solutions for different scenarios and populations. Some people may use Pedialyte and Gatorade interchangeably in some cases. However, their sugar-free options are far more similar - although Pedialyte still offers a higher electrolytes content, which is meant to replenish fluids more effectively. They also pack two to three times the amount of sodium and a considerably higher amount of potassium.Īdditionally, Pedialyte Classic provides 25% of the Daily Value (DV) for zinc to support your immune system. Pedialyte and Gatorade are two rehydration drinks designed to prevent or treat dehydration.Īs you can see, both Pedialyte Classic and Sport provide significantly fewer calories and sugar than Gatorade’s Thirst Quencher. It was designed to fuel athletes and replenish what they lose through sweat during physical activity, thus promoting good sports performance.īoth brands offer various products to meet varying hydration needs and demands. Gatorade is known for being a sports drink.

ORS’s are designed to optimize fluid absorption and generally effective at treating dehydration ( 3). Pedialyte is an oral rehydration solution (ORS). Nevertheless, despite their shared ingredients and goal, they’re slightly different products. This is because when you become dehydrated, your body loses water and electrolytes - a group of minerals that’s essential for normal bodily function ( 2).īoth drinks provide water, sugar, and electrolytes, such as sodium and potassium. In fact, thanks to their electrolyte content, they’re more effective than water at rehydrating. There is little evidence supporting that one drink is better at enhancing performance compared with the other.Pedialyte and Gatorade are both designed to prevent or treat dehydration. Powerade and Gatorade may benefit athletes who participate in continuous and prolonged exercise. Most of these studies were performed in athletes, so the results may not apply to those who engage in low or moderate levels of exercise. However, very little evidence suggests that one drink is better than the other. Several studies note that Powerade and Gatorade help improve performance in prolonged exercises like running, cycling, and triathlons, compared with a placebo ( 16, 17, 18). That said, beverages with carbs, such as Powerade and Gatorade, may enhance athletic performance in continuous exercise of 1–4 hours or longer ( 15).

There’s limited evidence on the benefits of drinking sports drinks for short-duration exercises like weight training, sprinting, and jumping ( 12, 13, 14). Nonetheless, the benefits of drinking sports drinks like Powerade and Gatorade depend on the activity and individual. Sports drinks are designed to rehydrate your body and restore carbs, electrolytes, and other nutrients that you may lose during exercise ( 11).
